Midnight in a City Without Light 

Paved

I see the city being repaved
Into a cleaner version of itself
Light washes into corners once darkened
Unwashed faces still look up
As though I were a just and loving God
But I walk by as an ordinary man
Subject to life and uncertainty
These faces do not disappear
They gather in lowly places
Where even hope dares not visit
Too often     My sisters my brothers
I am pained though not as much
As those of you who sleep
On cracked and windswept
Streets night after night
Towering glass can see you
But you cannot see in
Revealed and obscured

What Sound? What Touch?

Outside our window the symphonic sounds
of the city rose into the room.

Car horns, excited voices, the young, the drunk,
all became part of the same movement.

I looked out but could see no conductor.


We drank the bottle of wine that we picked
on a whim some days earlier. It had been

a long wait, though, only a week had passed.
We were lucky to have had two cheap

plastic cups in which to pour the drink.


Restless, we moved from the bed, stood,
sat and wondered what to do with ourselves.

The wine spoke quietly to us one at a time,
relaying the same message.

Hands moved and found warmth.

Narrating A Moment

I watch her legs wobble as she crosses the street

and tries to regain her balance. A man crossing

in the opposite direction stares briefly, intensely

at her. She does not see his gaze. As he passes

he looks back to see her from behind. 

She disappears into the city as the man reaches 

the sidewalk, his right foot catching slightly

on the curb. A car cuts a quick turn behind him.

He utters a mumbled curse and keeps walking.

I see the time and empty the last of the coffee. 

Excuse The Mess

City in progress,

incomplete avenues.

Red lights and fumes.


Wandering through,

in search of anything

city trees

Trees cannot be caged by mere concrete

or iron bars. They do not recognize 

the power we ascribe to each 

as absolutes. Pavement will crack

and jut from odd angles as roots

spider throughout without regard

to our conceptions or concerns.