WILD BEAUTY

by Teresa Carson

after Gerard Manley Hopkins

Glory to my greedy, thrill-bent youth:
The pills—black-beauties shiny as rained-on streets—
And fine wines, pink with twist-off caps, that woke
Harsh-headaches, charred like hell-fire, made me puke;
Rock stars sleazy and slick—drugged, drunken and sweet;
And weekend splurges, laughter, sex and smokes.
All things rough, outrageous, raw, rash;
Whatever felt wildest, wicked, most indiscreet.
With bottles, blue-dot, pricks, pills, pipes and potions,
I ravaged rules and stubbornly stayed brash.
                                Praise my hard-earned hope.