Homeless

he's big, husky,
drapes himself with a blanket.
he pitches his tent. sits by it
asking for a few dollars.
it's rainy this time of year.
the water falls like blood from the sky.
he must run for cover. stay dry.
soon the merciless winter will strike.
I met him at Starbucks.
says he cut his hand
picking through garbage.
wears a hat with a hole in it.
swears he has a girlfriend
though she's mad at him today.

speaks of his daughter,
her blue eyes, Sunday dress.
holds an old faded photo.
says she's as kind as a kitten.
he hasn't grown tired of love
but knows he'll never find it.
he's been canceled out of her life.

for him life is oblique,
skewed in the city's underbelly,
the scaly streets,
the nerves of night,
but give him a coin and he thanks you.

at times old ghosts rise.
he lifts his fists.
get lost in his own hurricane.
then melts into moans.
young tongues mock. 
adults judge.

he's lost his rightful human way.
what is the antidote?
some say a faltering brain cannot be repaired.
the sun dims. night returns silence, 
quiet hours for this old soldier.
at his outpost he'll catch sleep
while the world moves
further away from him.

The Courtyard Dancer And Her Blanket



her exceptional beauty,
her voice, the way her whole body shook,
lit her lovely face.
her sharp leaps
and dark tropical eyes
aimed straight for us.
she warmed us, dared us,
entreated us with smiles,
stares, and elbows.
delved into our deep desires.

with each snap of the blanket
she laughed, motioned
as she leaned into our stories,
winked at our wide eyes and solemn secrets.
we were in her court.
she seized our senses.
spun us around..
at times she'd kiss the blanket.
she was a Latina beauty
dancing on her victory ship.

she drew her splash
from the orange pinches,
fiery reds and deep greens
weaved into the rich knit stitching.
"my angelic threads," she says.
"from the tears of the good earth." 

we were left galvanized.
later, when folding
the corners she looked up
and whispered:
“grandma, did you see?
we did it. didn't we?"