Sonnet-ish in which I conflate various men.

What is it about a man with an accent,

an accident? What is it about a man with an accident?

It’s your birthday soon. It’s the anniversary

of your first trip to rehab. It’s the anniversary

of your second trip to rehab.

Soon, you’ll make your third trip to rehab.

Or you won’t. You’ll get arrested. You’ll die.

I’ll raise the girls to strong young women,

set them loose. Tell them the story.

It’s my birthday soon.

I found out I was pregnant

when you were in Virginia, getting clean.

I found you somewhere awful, and yet,

your eyes are green.