stones lay on the street
trees stand naked of leaves
not knowing how to be trees

doors cry out
on rusted hinges
for winds to cease
their moaning

behind broken windows
cracks in the walls
old women hide
when you look toward them
old men yell at you
to go home kid
get out of our town

theres a hole in the sky
where the sun once shone
no lights inside the buildings
where bitterness and decency
coil together like cornered snakes

head down
keep walking
kick one of the stones
look up squint your eyes
open them again in surprise
when you remember
there is no light

1967