The day’s mood of gloom
disperses
as the watery sun fades
into dreamy twilight.
Cool soft mist pervades the evening
Still broke & lonely
I slip into an aura of
serene acceptance;
I do my shopping only
through windows
where I find
an elegant crowd, immersed in fine dining
the women, flowing in their gaudy, filmy garments
the men, all matching in funereal hues.
They shine with their importance,
their voiceless words, tumbling useless
through the window.
I move on
along the avenue;
past peacock tints of Persia,
covering every inch of floor,
draped on walls
to seduce the eye
In one window, displayed on a small silver screen,
a squadron of ballerinas
leaps &sways
in an endless loop of soundless grace
their lithe forms tempt lonely eyes.
Down the street,
a basement club oozes
congas
timbales
trumpets
jittery
clave piano runs;
shimmering brown-skinned girls still shimmy
even as they step our into the cool damp night.
Rollicking voices fade into car-door slams
& the voice of burning rubber,
my cue
to wander homeward through the mist.
Police lights bird-dog my steps;
I show no fear.
I have survived, and savored
yet another damp spring night.
