Marybeth Rua-Larsen

Nine Inch Nails

You sat on the couch cutting
your long, black hair, chunk after chunk,
while I kept my  big-eyed distance beside you,
not moving, not speaking, hoping
not to be next as your cell shook
with its “Terrible Lie” ringing,
Pops signaling his release,
insisting on a ride home.

Marybeth Rua-Larsen lives halfway between Boston and Cape Cod but spends most of her time in Providence, searching for Lovecraft’s grave.