When We Were Lifeboats

A Poem

You are sixteen and need your best friend
like the Titanic needed lifeboats
That is:
desperately, to save your life
everything hurts less at her house —
No parents about to lose everything,
No neighbors bringing the food
your family can’t afford
No sick father spending long months at home
Her father just goes to work
and comes home for dinner
and if her parents fight
it’s not in front of you
There are no little…