to underestimate a rat

he touched her
my woman,
he touched her, she said, but
he wouldn't
not with me right downstairs
not with people there
not when she was sick from too much booze
needing to lie down, he
wouldn't
under covers
up her leg
tell her
exactly what he was doing
got to be lines crossed or something, i've
known the guy since knee high
fought alongside him
mentor type, he taught me old school
how to be a tough one
picked up for me
cracked if i was hurt, he
needed me
when his wife fucked off
when his son broke down
when he was stuck in the mad-house
when he tried killing himself
with drink
(and almost went another route)
phone-calls
all hours
and i dropped shit to be there
man
he told me
to stay away from his daughter
'cause i was no good for her
'cause he and i got pissed
got high
partied like
there was a big red button on a big white wall
and she wanted me

he touched her
she said
she who
i only met two years ago
i'm gonna marry her
recollection keeps changing
didn't tell me
until three days later
said she was nervous
thought she took care of it
but that
it was starting to make her sick, she
has a habit of forgetting

he fucking touched her
 
we had him on speakerphone
so she could tell him what she told me
had to hear his voice
tell her she got him wrong
or call her a bitch
for causing a pointless rift
between old pals
but i got the real thing
"i would never hurt him like that
i don't remember
i had two bottles

i'm so sorry"