POETIC INVERSION

THE VILLAGE GAY STREETS

IT'S WHERE THE SUN SIGNS TO THE CROWD, IT'S WHERE THE NIGHT OFFERS HER PEACE. IT'S WHERE THE HEART OF LOVE CALLS OUT IN VAIN TO SOOTHE THE SULLEN STREETS.

I'VE SEEN THEM TRIMMED WITH SORTED FOLK, WITH CRIMINALS OF EVERY TYPE,

WITH THIEVES AND PIMPS, PEDDLING DOPE AND DRINKING BY SOME CLOUDY LIGHT.

I'VE SEEN THE VERY LONELY ONES CROUCHED IN A CORNER WITH A GLASS. I'VE SEEN THE HARD AND BITTER SCUM,

A DRUNKEN BULK OF UGLY MASS.

AND AT A TABLE HERE AND THERE,

BEHIND A SOFT WAX CANDLE LIGHT,

I'VE SEEN THOSE TURNED FROM EVERYWHERE--

THE HOMOSEXUALS OF LIFE.

'TIS PITY THEY'VE NO PLACE TO GO

WHERE PEOPLE WON'T OBJECT AND STARE

EXCEPT A STRING OF STREETS THAT KNOW

THE DEPTHS OF CRIME, THE LOST, THE SCARRED.

DID YOU KNOW?

THAT STEMS HAVE FLOWERS?

THAT SHOWERS HAVE SPRINGS?

THAT WINGS HAVE BIRDS?

THAT WORDS HAVE SONGS?

THAT WRONGS HAVE RIGHTS?

DO YOU KNOW?

DIANA STERLING

VERONICA COS

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