at 60, his heart gave out
not from an OD in an east village walk-up
not from a knife wound to the belly
from another junkie’s blade
his heart gave out
attacked
like his art
attacked us
in nineteen seventy something…
but we’re here…
carroll is gone..
off to join the masters
scratching their balls
tipped back in their chairs
smiling at their
good fortune
glad to be done with it
