Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, MOTHER JUNKIE, by CLARENCE MAJOR


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

MOTHER JUNKIE, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: She has the shakes, thinks she's gonna die
Last Line: To the east river, five blocks away
Subject(s): Drugs & Drug Abuse; Medicine; Substance Abuse; Narcotics; Opium; Cocaine; Crack; Heroin; Drugs, Prescription; Addictive Behavior


She has the shakes, thinks she's gonna die.
So thin turned sideways

in the mirror she disappears.
They keep telling her to cool it.

She's got fifteen cats and six litter boxes.
Stinks up the hallway.

Everybody in the building bitches
and she comes and goes hiding

behind dark glasses. Her night traffic
keeps me awake. She has fits.

She keeps telling them about her fits.
Her daughter keeps begging me

for a bike ride. Healthy girl
with a curious mind.

I take her on the handlebars, her first time
to the East River, five blocks away.


Used with the permission of Copper Canyon Press, P.O. Box 271, Port Townsend, WA
98368-0271, www.cc.press.org




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