The Admiral Oasis Motel

**Trigger Warning: Themes of childhood trauma**

Images from a postcard of the Admiral Oasis. Judging by the cars, this looks like an early series of photos. Screenshot by author.

Pickled pigs’ feet, silverware
soaking in scummy water
silent, motionless
a rancid orange edging all of it.
​ ​ ​​​ ​ ​​​ ​ ​​​There,
in a reeking basement motel room
full of smoke and desolation.
Was this a normal life?
Who knows.
I didn’t know anything about
normal life.