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Over the Rhine

Pills through the open car window
two oranges and a grey
"mac" they call it here
changed by clear water
to euphoria

grey of a summer morning
parking on the waterfront
tying off with a shoestring
kept in the glove box

the plastic syringe
needle point silvery
in the half-light
pointing down
to where a vein throbs
blue and patient

the immaculate hit
not even a bruise
taste of relief
rising into the throat

warmth for a moment
in a world soon again
forlorn
ragged
cold

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