[funk between her toes]

funk between her toes
a sandal flaps to James Brown
sole naked for soul

Subjectivity

tonight at the shelter
Denny's got a couple new die
and him, and a few others are shooting craps
for pennies over in the corner


the t.v. up on the wall is playing Wheel of Fortune
and Susan
as usual
has her eyes glued to the screen


they are serving fried chicken
corn, mashed potatoes, a slice of bread
and a couple of those little butters wrapped in foil
and Doug, who grew up on a farm in Wisconsin will say
"if a man needs more than bread and butter to be happy
well, that's his problem"


Bobby has a new dirty joke he tells us
and, holy christ, is it a good one


tonight at the shelter we eat


tonight at the shelter we laugh


and tonight at the shelter we don't think about
the people in the mansions, or the people in the fancy cars
at all

[blender warm with tears]

blender warm with tears
cradle bits between her teeth
dead baby smoothie

[her gravel road heart]

her gravel road heart
leads to the most beautiful
but desolate place

[kings of saturday]

kings of saturday
sunday's dethronement awaits
fleeting majesties

[crossword puzzle girl]

crossword puzzle girl
ACROSS from sudoku boy
both keep looking DOWN

[treated well with sleep]

treated well with sleep
a rested sun shines steady
balanced with sparse clouds