The Knock
He zipped himself inside
a sleeping bag
in the church.
Brother,
I fell in love
and knocked on his door.
This was not what I had expected.
I told him I’d
do whatever he wanted.
He said nothing
is going to change.
I fell back.
Take from me
what belonged to him all along.
Tested
He lied.
He had no choice
but to lie.
I was clean.
If you failed a test,
we shared an understanding.
My mom
couldn’t have been clapping
any harder for me.
He flew home,
fighting for his life.
You Can Never Go
Hometown losing–
my idea to
subtly tear me down.
I was happy.
Shake my hand
later.
Call me champ
once or twice,
friend.
Learn to talk
trudging around.
He was violent.
The last thing I needed
was to get hurt.
Michael Chin was born and raised in Utica, New York and currently lives in Las Vegas with his wife and son. He is the author of five previous books, including the 2021 novel My Grandfather’s an Immigrant and So is Yours (Cowboy Jamboree Press). Find him online at miketchin.com and follow him on Twitter @miketchin.
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