On Every Street

After walking by night several times, I now walk by day, but I am not aware of any crowning advantage in it. - Thoreau

with a not-so-soft, shoe shuffle

toting life in a tattered, torn and patched duffle

black and blue rocks are tossed

lost at any cost

on each and every thoroughfare they've crossed

scrawling nuclear graffiti

sworn to a secret blood treaty

congregating and sailing like the fifth fleet

surely the kind you'd avoid rather than desire to meet

on every street

Author's Note

"Give me the old familiar walk, post-office and all, with this ever new self, with this infinite expectation and faith, which does not know when it is beaten. We'll go nutting once more. We'll pluck the nut of the world, and crack it in the winter evenings. Theaters and all other sightseeing are puppet-shows in comparison. I will take another walk to the Cliff, another row on the river, another skate on the meadow, be out in the first snow, and associate with the winter birds. Here I am at home. In the bare and bleached crust of the earth I recognize my friend." - Thoreau