gambling with my life,

shuckin

all these years,

dealin 

for the next chance to come round

but then "miss mystery"

sweetly served up my very first drug

and promptly split

takin off with my boots,

house keys and cigarettes

tried reachin her,

this one who sleeps with the stars,

but she winged it

like a bird that nests in many trees

still, next time I wanna to get to know her

maybe move into her house,

maybe set fire to her backporch,

or maybe get bounced 

my new birthday boots back on again

1981

Paterson