Times Square --

"Funny, you don't look hip."

Sport to Travis, "Taxi Driver"

inbred with subtle Substance

hurled across the Page

a moment Undying here

in these hurricane streets the mauve reflection

of taillights seeking Heat

these young men have gone to fight for us

in forests deserts seas

unheard of looking

intensely in mirrors their Mothers there, their

Fathers unkempt with patience awaiting hurried packages

bent with Steam – "any time anywhere" – curled

upon your bed,

you work out the equations in your head,

Sunshine the girl tripping on LSD,

legacy of another war the bulimic girl's heart failing,

kidneys worked over with alcohol and anti-freeze, Suicide

is not poetic; the Priest contends with Nature

but he cannot bend the cross to his forgotten Children

who work all hours, who have leveraged

Pain for Loss, these infinite girls play by the hydrant and laugh,

hearts bruised by their Intimate Saviors -- "I don't

know who's weirder, you or me" –

Men wishing they were women and women wishing they were men

unfurl their longing under bridges, gruff with hatred's Scar across their Cheek, the

sudden Pimp outlasting the judge, burnt

by vigilantes high with Righteousness and

hurt ; – Shamed

by Scorn, Mr. H. drowned himself in the lobster-rich Hudson – a

Strict celebration of duty beneath

a clouded Sky – Mr. M claimed

CEO of Virgin Records, Mr. O. the Marielito

walked to India, where he died, again, to

the Tune of Mr. B's emissary flute, Scotland's

Telemann King – Now it

has become difficult to know which way to turn

in warm water inching out from battered radiators, bed-

springs creaking with the sullen breath of a

misplaced irony; You strap

your Gun in your Sleeve, you

Confront Angels and Guard Dogs, you

are a Saint in the City, your

hate is holy – You

never wanted War to be your legacy; ice

in your Veins warms with hope in bent arms

embracing a Girl's Memory as

you Wrap

her in flannel

and look out for

the Children in your Care; She

sings for You, Nightcrawler of Subways --

"What's moonlighting?" --

You will lose Yourself to Save her; you

will shelter her in the rain and write home that

everything is okay --

*