“get up outta bed (to the bongin bass riffs comin up thru the cracks in the floorboards), Beth Ann, we're goin downtown fer shoes!”

Friday morning or any morning

center median of the crossroads people---

their bass beat so down, positively steady,

balanced by the wishbone pretzel arch,

framed by Gaslight Square brokebrick free radio doorways

city of clothesline radios!

city ’53 dove-gray neo-rusted Hudsons parked longterm on Laclede Avenue!

city of underground backporch lighthouse brigades!

“say whaa, Louie?”

city that's home to gallant swordsmen

sometimes passing as indescribable junkmen

gagged and stoned upstairs with the Music

city of goin downtown for shoes!

city of another swallow to kick in the next Mississippi chain reaction

of River gates opening,

of River flooding to wash away the offal and our sins

city on the shore of two Rivers!

city of goin downtown for shoes!

11/6/73