where we all sleep

i walk the wee hour
through neon lit
part of town

past the tattoo man

his machine buzzing

dragons and butterflies

and other ink dreams

into college kids who

have never been

here before

the angels of the sidewalk

pop their gum and yawn

strolling

slow as morning fog

then abra ka dabra

and disappear

into a strangers car

i wave at

mouthwash jimmy

his tired face split

open

a listerine smile

kicking hope

broken pipes

come to the place

where

we all sleep

tammy is drunk
and cursing
big baby sells his dope
the queers have
just started cruising
and red looks crazy
for cops


sleeping bags
and church handout
blankets stretch

corner

to corner

I sit down
on the curb
to untie my laces
the final encore
of a concert
at the ballpark
across the river
drifts

down on me

as i close

my eyes to sleep