Airy and Emmett Street
Airy Wells and Emmett Street were working class kids,
Just shy of a high school diploma.
Airy’s mom had a habit of drinking too much.
Emmett’s father was fighting lymphoma.
Airy and Emmett had jobs after school,
And mostly just kept out of trouble.
While Airy stocked shelves at the dollar store,
Emmett worked with a pick and a shovel.
Airy and Emmett had always been friends.
And liked spending weekends together.
With summer vacation a few days away,
They were feeling as hot as the weather.
Airy and Emmett walked into the woods,
Not a pocket of breadcrumbs between them.
When Airy got pregnant and started to show,
They were lost in a vast arboretum.
Airy and Emmett were nervous and scared,
But promised to trust in each other.
They knew they were faced with the obvious choice,
Or with Airy becoming a mother.
Airy and Emmett were both underage,
And kept their decision discrete.
When Airy gave birth to identical twins,
Named them Amy and Emily Street.
Airy and Emmett were wedded that winter
By a shill with a cheap bag of tricks.
Their good fairy godmother granted their wish,
And they both got their overdose fix.
Airy and Emmett lost everything fast.
They lived and they died in the margins.
Now Amy and Emily struggle to be,
Like a couple of weeds in the garden.
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