Late evening, early morning,
I search the night for whores,
young, bloody with desire.
Night streets are silent streets
except for hookers and their Johns.
One wants the dart of groins
the other green eyes in dollar
sacred treasures-
snatch the wallet, a consecrated craft.
Both hit the streets quickly
satisfy needs quickly.
I’m an old buck now rich with memories
more than movement, still talk, take porn shots,
with a peeking eye, snoop around
department store corners,
and dumpy old alleyways.
My hair is gray, my teeth eroding,
thoughts toward prayer
A.M. Catholic Mass,
then off in early morning
to the mailbox, a lethargic walk,
I pick up my social security check-
comforts my needs.
Evening settles into bed time
with a western romance novel,
ambushes, excitement,
old transgressions stretch
and relax.
No desires, homage
to the day, to the night.
Michael Lee Johnson is a poet and freelance writer from Itasca, Illinois. His new poetry chapbook with pictures, titled From Which Place the Morning Rises, and his new photo version of The Lost American: from Exile to Freedom are available at lulu.com/promomanusa. He also has two previous chapbooks available at: lulu.com/poetryboy. He is also editor/publisher of four poetry sites, all open for submission, which can be found at his Web site: poetryman.mysite.com.
Steel Toe Review 