some stayed, some died, some moved on

we used to sit

around

in Joe's mother's basement

and play

records.

drink beer.

he had a black light

on the dresser

and posters

on the wall, there were

five or six

of us.

children half grown

who used

to play sandlot ball together.

then things

turned.

Henry brought in the weed

and the dark room

filled with

smoke.

in time,

he tied his arm up, and

shot

into a vein

a syringe of dope.

childhood

ended then

and we went our separate

ways

for good. but some stayed

on the dangerous

and slippery

road.