ESCAPE

When I was twelve I put three quarters in an envelope, sent away for a sticker. It came in blue and green, said i want to fly with you / i want to die with you / something no one's dared. I liked bass best, because of listening with my body flopped over on Dad's speakers like a goddamn wounded seagull. J. drank whisky and lye, but before that he played metal, metal so loud it buzzed in his skull, buzzing and buzzing metal so his mom says tintinitis, even now. You know he couldn't live without hearing. Bunny slices kiwi to Black Flag, then calls because its skins look like monkey scalp. I remember you, you blue valentine and peeling strips of wallpaper, one bottle vodka six kinds (of paisley) and twice as many tweakers. He was such a punk, loud much and fast, so now smoker's cough rings like gunshot.

- Mairead Case