Various Medicines

You were reading Rambo (???) and smoking in the backyard of a bar
where my drinks are on the house and I know
how to get there by car and by train and by bus
and by walking through the parks
I was happy when you wrote me a letter
It said you were feeling better
In the summer you got used to various medicines and in the fall
you called
We met an old friend at the sidewalk table of a Polish diner
where we drank but he could not
It was the end of our day by the river with the city kids
in the grass and on the rocks
I was happy when you wrote me a letter
It said you were feeling better
In the summer you got used to various medicines and in the fall
You called
In the morning you saw your ex and your cousin
and later we met at a street corner.
We watched the river, the sun and the city, and at dusk
you took and interstate bus
I was happy when you wrote me a letter
It said you were feeling better
In the summer you got used to various medicines and in the fall
You called
With the money you got from waiting tables
you were thinking of buying yourself a new gun
You ran after a rat, barefoot and slowly
and I thought of the story that you had just told me