the most imitated poet in america

the most imitated poet in america

i may cheat on you

i will certainly drink too much
swear too loudly, smoke like i don’t deserve you
and you will taste cigarettes on my skin

des autres petite mort

i will treat you badly,
myself, worse
forget your birthday
call you only when it is convenient

my laughter will cut you
the jokes always at our expense
an embarrassment to your parents, mine
friends, yours. my hangers-on
already used
to the antics

they know me.

you will curse, throw dishes
and maybe pull a knife
you will question my genealogy
my manhood, more than likely my sanity

i will talk you down
and we will fuck, our anger
narcotic, ecstasy
addictive
or
we will walk out, names
like curses, tear-sealed oaths
vows of celibacy, as if

you will call me a fuckup
i will heartily agree, buy you a drink
for finally noticing

but you will believe me
when i tell you

i love you, maybe more even
than the bottle

and for that, you will forgive me
my many penny sins