My days and nights
  death in between
  trouble in front—behind

The devil hijacking my
  fondest dream
  trouble in front—behind

She said she loved me
  then said it twice
  trouble in front—behind

The day I got fired
  she turned to ice
  trouble in front—behind

I pass out ******
  and wake up hard
  trouble in front—behind

With time my warden
  and sentence scarred
  trouble in front—behind

My children’s names
  now others call
  trouble in front—behind

The doctor warns…
  “Not one more fall”
  trouble in front—behind

Excuses inked
  across my chest
  trouble in front—behind

The good got better
  but the worst got best
  trouble in front—behind

My eyes stay swollen
  my mojo light
  trouble in front—behind

The river rolling
  the falls in sight
  trouble in front—behind

(Villanova Pennsylvania: August, 2018)