vanessa was raised
in detroit-
a hustling scofflaw with
streetwalker hips and a
clover tattoo on her neck
last night she slept
in her tercel-
vanessa gambled her
welfare pittance and was
evicted twelve days ago
one time vanessa put a
knife to my throat-
wacked on crank confections
she thought my skin was husk
that must be peeled
tuesday marty told me
vanessa was dead-
arms tied and extended
over her head, a multitude
of stab wounds post mortem
i went to the morgue to
identify the body-
vanessa’s cold plum lips
and hollow cheeks conformed
to her clamy, narrow mug
vanessa was cremated
on tuesday-
i signed for the ashes
relationship to the deceased sir?
“stepfather”.
deuce coupe 
In 1983, Lawrence Gladeview was born to two proud and semi-doting parents. After two middle schools and losing his faith in catholic high school, he graduated from James Madison University, majoring in English and having spent only one night in jail. He is a Washington D.C. poet cohabiting with his fiance Rebecca Barkley. He is one of two editors for the e-zine MediaVirus and his poems have been featured in Word Catalyst Magazine, Gloom Cupboard, Lit Up Magazine, The Legendary, Shoots and Vines Literary Magazine, Yellow Mama Literary Magazine, and Gutter Eloquence Literary Journal.
Wow, I was not expecting that ending. Powerful and thought provoking. Keep up the amazing work; you’re awesome.