Post-Punk Homecoming

After the manager embezzled

the proceeds and bought himself
a shiny foreign car, we uncovered
bills from every collection agency
in town and panicked one night
when the lights went out
in our shady, rented house.

We took off in different
directions. I couldn't account
for most of my clothes. I sat
in the yard, at home with my dad,
shucking corn as an act of contrition,
and I conceded again and again
that yes, we’d been lucky, and no,

I couldn't say precisely how
we got so dumb,
because everything we did
was big and bright and very loud,
and everyone applauded.

--Mariette Landry