Poetry by Mary Sexson

                   ​Tristan Loper CC



In and Out

Your son gave me a picture
he had drawn today
in art class, vivid blues
and greens, in the upper
left corner a simple “Erth”,
made special with a big capital E.

He wants me 
to send it to you, but I don’t
know the address
for “walked away from rehab”.  There is no
street name for “returned to abusive boyfriend”,
and no zip code
for the crack house you know downtown.

We are there all over again,
this time only a three-month respite,
a brief lull
in the din of your addiction.  Your son
thinks he will be visiting you, dear daughter,
in the place where you are “getting well”,
believes with all his heart you will both
go roller skating. He is planning
on holding your hand as you weave
in and out of the pulsing lights.



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Mary Sexson is author of the award-winning book, 103 in the Light, Selected Poems 1996-2000 (Restoration Press), and co-author of Company of Women, New and Selected Poems (Chatter House Press). Her poetry has appeared in Tipton Poetry Journal, Laureate, Literary Journal of Arts for Lawrence, Flying Island, New Verse News, and Last Stanza Poetry Journal, among others. Sexson’s poems are also included in various anthologies.  Her most recent work is in Reflections on Little Eagle Creek Anthology, and Anti-Heroin Chic (October 2021). Her newest work was just released in a new issue of Tipton Poetry Journal and is forthcoming in Issue #7 Last Stanza Poetry Journal.  Her work is part of INverse Poetry Archives, for Hoosier Poets.
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