John Amen

ICONS

I haven’t seen you in years, Scott, but I remember
waking up on the floor of your trailer. It was Sunday,
no way to buy booze until noon. We drove to the A&P,
stole two bottles of cough syrup, guzzled them behind
a gas station dumpster. Next thing we’re in a restroom
somewhere north of Atlanta—a Chinese guy brandishing
a knife, demanding my wallet. Then he’s on the floor,
your fists like battering rams pounding holes in his face.
He’s begging you to stop in Chinese. I drag you off him,
and we stagger through the parking lot, your knuckles
bloody and torn. I’ll never forget our red footprints
on the black asphalt. I still dream about that sometimes.

John Amen is the author of two collections of poetry: Christening the Dancer (Uccelli Press 2003) and More of Me Disappears (Cross-Cultural Communications 2005). He has also released one CD, All I’ll Never Need (Cool Midget 2004). His second CD, Ridiculous Empire, will be released in Spring 2008. Further information is available on his website. Amen founded and continues to edit the award-winning literary bimonthly, The Pedestal Magazine.