1 poem
by Horatio Harrington
Horatio Harrington is a poet and writer currently splitting time between Montreal and New Jersey. A PhD candidate in English at Princeton University, Horatio researches representations of queer life within outskirt spaces. Recent work appears in the Lambda Literary Review, New South Journal, and TIMBER.
Steaks Unlimited
oh my husband he’s gonna leave me for sure
he just rolled his eyes when I brought this little
guy home I nursed him for three weeks and I
don’t give a damn if they’re not legal that’s right
this state has a law against them but what am I
gonna do give this guy away wait here I’ll show
you he’s the most adorable thing they’re nocturnal
perfect for my schedule I get home at three and
we hang out while my husband sleeps here that’s
Opie wait let me raise the brightness alright look
at his nose isn’t he the cutest there’re these entire
opossum message boards I discovered when I
brought him home I’m not alone I tell my husband
I found this sketch doctor up north he gave Opie
all his shots he’s what I come home to after shifts
now that’s actually when I first found him like at
three AM after work I had had a few drinks in me
but I was good to drive and on the highway I see
him on the shoulder and I immediately stop I can’t
leave him like that he’d clearly been hit and I’m
finding towels and whatever else I can when this
car pulls over behind me and this guy gets out and
I’m a blond who works at a bar I know a drunk guy
when I see one and so this guy starts asking me if
I need any help I say no but he’s getting closer and
closer and I have Opie wrapped in blankets in my
arms at this point so I decide to turn around and
show him what I’m holding and I shit you not he
raises his finger in the air like this and starts backing
up and saying you stay away from me and he gets
right back in his car do you believe that I finally
found a drunk guy repellent so that’s why you can’t
tell anyone about him or the state will take him
away the state’s got rules for everything you have
to pay to get onto the beach for heaven’s sake