Another One from When I Was 8

we knew him to see him
never by name

women’s glasses
too big for his face

blue knit cap
bad teeth
oily black
cactus needle
hairs poked
through his
rubbery cheeks

trash bags full
of the free romance novels
from the box
in front
of the library

he was always there
filling up
on the worst
of the forgotten

he smelled that same smell
we’re all familiar with

piss
sour
sweat
old
stale
mad

he’d spend time
with the born-again couple
in the trailer
next to my
mom’s

the husband & wife
so tragic
so perfect

John Thomas Menesini is the author of The Last Great Glass Meat Million (Six Gallery Press 2003), e pit ap h (Six Gallery Press 2007), and endo Poems and Sketches 2007 – 2011 (Six Gallery Press 2011). He also appeared in the anthology Honeysuckle, Honeyjuice: A Tribute to James Liddy (Arlen House 2006). He lives among the throng & filth of Manhattan.