Ballad of Crisis

This article was published on 06.26.03

Saw Cupid, head humble
eyes at gravel
decked in midnight black
& lavender & scarlet
on Marysville & Grand Avenue
tailing the unemployment line

Cursing case workers
under his peppered breath
’cause he been longitude
on his calloused soles
well past dark thirty 1914
applying for government assistance
to replace his retirement
& the line ain’t slugged
an inch since—