Guest Poet Charlie Farmer ‘Pride Care Cleaners’

Pride Care Cleaners


I was 18 and bought my first suit and tie
so I could go to Grady Memorial
and say,” This is Emily.”


Handshakes with coroners.


My attempt at dignity.
To be well dressed and say,
“This is Emily.”


To identify you.


You were 32, heroin chic.
Front page cheeks.


I found you in your bathroom.
Your hair matted, mascara a mess.


I did my best to clean you
before the ambulances.


I dressed you in my favorite sundress.


Floral print.


It was important
that ambulance drivers
found you important.


Men made fun of you
on bathroom walls,
but I still dry-cleaned that suit,
The best I could do at 18.


Charlie Farmer