winding down the days of September…with windows open and a cool night breeze blowing through the house…storm clouds over head…a purple shade colors the midnight sky…while cars drive by…red tail lights glow in the dark…cops cruise Harrison and South Calhoun…looking for mischief in the night…the hookers and holders…pimps and johns…staggering drunks making their way home to bedrolls under the bridge at Baker Street…over at the bus station big blue Greyhounds pick up and drop off weary travelers…for some it’s home…and others see it as just another town to try their luck at again…

and in the town square on benches by a fountain…junkies shoot up…crackheads under trees blaze up…the smell of spice waves through the air…a young lady baths in yellow lit water amongst dead birds…golden piss…and brown leaves…she makes her living on her knees…

but…I am safe…sitting in my sun room with the cool night breeze blowing…writing poetry and listening to bop jazz as hours go by…and the city waits for another morning to arrive…

it is all we ask for…