Hot Blistered Soul

Hot Blistered Soul

City, kicking itself to wakefulnees
doors in the project’s corridors slamming
people out to work or out of work
anxious to breathe
too anxious to breathe
head for the mountains,
but trip over the bush.

Rough pavement
rough bricks
rougher attitudes
what can I get from you
so fast
you won't even know it's gone.

Down on the sidewalks
down on themselves
copping anger attitude
trusting no one
walking alone
even their shadows
hide in the darkness.

A passer-by's smile
thrown back with a glare
isolated give-me- a-dollar
stare
I pay
But never know his name.

Inside the buildings stuffed shirts
eat stuffed flounder
and drink their Perrier
putting on airiers.

Inside their insides
they are the ones
who are afraid.