First Edition: Poetry reading at McNaughton Centre, a secondary alternate school (Quesnel, BC), December 13, 2006. Revised Edition: LukivPress (Victoria, BC), 2019. // An excerpt // The Winter Coat // Friday afternoon, 3:00: / She says, "I'm gonna take my coat / To the pawn shop." / "The pawn shop?" her teacher says, / Gazing up from her pen. / "Ya. It's still warm out. / I'm gonna use the money / To buy beer." Her face is soft; / She looks happy. // Her teacher opens her mouth, / Then closes it as the student / Leaves.
