lotto winner
By DIY Danna

i

crawling out of bed

champagne for brains

swimming in her head

she presses the snooze button

and granny gets out of her grave

to remind babygirl of the winning ticket

and to pour a pot of folgers

into a cold carafe of whole milk

ii

the milk eventually sours the stomach

and causes her to cramp

and as she flails on the wooden floor

of her modern furniture bedroom.

the one night stand gives her a high-five

and asks her if she’ll be okay.

“No, call a cab -

and take me to the nearest cemetery.”

iii

he performs last rites and

empties her purse to reveal a condom

“You’re going to hell for using these.

Not purgatory. That’s for faggots.”

I poked holes in all the condoms we used

last night with a safety pin

when you were celebrating

the winning ticket.”

iv

too weak to fight him

and overcome by the waves

she drowns in a sea of love

polluted by his contempt

of her refusal to share the wealth.

he keeps her alind the lock to her room on

a gold chain he bought