Safe Travels

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How many pocket knives can I fit inside

my purse? Teach me to walk down a street

like a man who can walk down any street

and be fine. Who killed the belly-up

rat in the parking lot? Are you my angel?

Be my gun underneath the bed. Be honest —

when I get mad, it’s funny. Like the man

at the bar laughs now when I say, no,

I won’t tell him where I live. Like my father

always laughed when he asked me,

“Who do I have to kill for you today?”