CRITTERS (Writer's Island prompt)

For the Writer’s Island prompt, “Stowaways,” comes a poem a bit less ethereal than other offerings, but absolutely true… from the late 70s, a time my friend John calls “Amy: The Lost Years”!


CRITTERS

Cardboard boxes chockful of
my few worldly possessions
lugged one flight up to a friend’s apartment
My third Venice digs in two months

Communal in a sense but
each to their own room
and roommates didn’t seem to bedhop
I liked it that way

Day One a girl wanders in and
announces she has scabes
Little disgusting lice-like creatures
their place of embarkation most likely her privates

“But I just moved in,” I wail
as I’m forced to empty my boxes and
hot-water bleach all clothing
and then comes the fun part

My first day with my new roomies was spent
naked on the rooftop in the California sun
slathering each other with Quell
but better than being infested with sex cooties

Such a glamorous place, LA
Such high rents to pay
Such dangerous games to play
Such toxic stuff to make it go away

© 2010 Amy Barlow Liberatore/Sharp Little Pencil