People in the Street

1 Just after midnight at the Spotted Cat,
2 a finale of rhythm beats in the clarinet-player’s cheeks.
3 When suddenly void of horns but still abuzz,
4 the barroom overflows into the likely-to-flood-again streets.
5
6 Outside, gutterpunks show the world as it truly is, 
7 stripped of purchased meaning and veiled comforts.
8 Wearing frayed and torn threads, they toss dice 
9 and look up from the stained concrete with sullen, sunken eyes.
10
11 I pray, tell us what you see from the sidewalk.
12 Tell us what is unseen but passes by again and again.
13 What is known when staring up from people’s feet? 
14 Tell us, before we board our planes 
15 returning to our constructs of purchased meaning.

4.4.17