"Black Lines" by Johnny Scarlotti
when i was 8 or 9
on swim team
my friend blake said
“hey, have you sniffed
the black lines
at the bottom of the pool yet?”
i said
“no, why?”
he said
“because they smell like
black licorice”
i said
“what? really?”
he said
“yeah”
i said
“cool! be right back!”
i dove under and i got real close
to the black line
excited, i sniffed
"On the Train" by Johnny Scarlotti
I sit on the train
with some kids
my friends, I guess
I hang my head
down
katherine
sits next to me
she says
your body
it’s like a smile
from knee to head
she traces it with her hand
haha, she laughs
I say
no
it’s a frown
I’m depressed
but she can’t hear me
she has already run off
katherine, come back