Poem by Gus Laessig – Original Artwork by Karin Söderquist for Paradigm Magazine
 
 
 

Praying for Laughter

My mom has this
infectious laughter,
that brings me
to my knees.

While I was safe
in the next room
eating peanut butter
from the jar,
kneeling in front
of the T. V.
I overheard her
promising men
felatio for a line
or a couple of pills

Mom and him went up the stairs
bubbling with laughter
he came down and went straight out;
then she’d come stumbling after

Sometimes she didn’t
come right down though.
So I’d drag my footed pj’s
along the tattered rug,
and crawl up the stairs with
the banister that looked like
a smile with missing teeth.

I would find her resting
her head on the toilet.
She used the belt
that she gave me,
to coerce her vein.

Her spoon and needle
sprawn across the sink,
having brought her
to her knees.
She smiled until
she found out she’d been
infected with disease.