remember the italian princess

remember when he used to call you his Italian Princess?

he wrapped his leather-clad and studded arm around you

the corner of his eyes crinkled like old newsprint

smelling of cigarettes and that musty bar Spider Bite rocked at

but the door slams behind him, following the trail of many others

the ash and must lingers in your red tinted butterfly hair

it's wisps curl around your hallow cheeks

butterfly kisses to red itchy eyes

i will comfort you, as the other times

boney shoulders shake and shiver in my arms

the same words will leave your cracked lips, again and again

barely audible over static Lingo on replay from your outdated tv

remember when you shuffled to his stoop

the chilly dead air whispering about the midnight strike?

with only a thin red blanket covered in calico down

tears streaming down your face you pounded fist against wooden door

till knuckles bruised black and blue; the door never opened

instead the police, flashing blood red and blue, took you home?

i remember

remember when time danced past

as you pushed those skeletal fingers into the phone

the same 7 digits searing your brain

becoming blurred under you ultra- violet stare

finally he picked up, a restraining order hot on his breath

you could only sob into the phone

i remember

remember when i was eight

the darkness covered you; yet another episode

you stared at me with black sunken eyes

"i don't even recognize you"

"i'm you goddaughter, salina?"

you continued to stare rocking back and forth, eyes dry and unmoving

i remember