Thursday, June 07, 2012

Chicago


An old panhandler on the corner reads Rumi.
basketball player on hotel carpet signs autographs
crew cut man in shades barks instructions in his iPhone
the city of broad shoulders breaks easy

Black wallet left on a coffee shop table
Colorado driver's license and cards inside
For a split second I switch identities
Then hand in the case at the desk

Sunlight beats down on the buildings
Sidewalks heavy with concrete & steel shadows
In the city of broad shoulders
what will be left when the winners leave town?

5 mins after, man in shorts sweeps the shop
Did you see my wallet?
he asks, I tell.

three sixty dollars cash gone since he left it
a sharper thief emptied it first
City of fast bucks for some
for others, broke luck