Patrick says
he knew
if he didn’t learn to love
other people or himself
—what’s the difference?—
he would die a junkie
Patrick says he might
be able to stay clean for
a while:
long minutes where
hope is birthed
and dies between the pulse
of the punch clock
Patrick says he can’t love
you or
anyone
if he
needs
your love
because then it’s just business
or addiction
—what’s the difference?—
but Patrick says
he won’t die
under that thumb