walking with Mom before dawn
bikes, joggers, dogs
step counters, sweat bands, mp3s
sub.urb.ia
Mom points at the sky
and through the smog you can see the stars
like the ones down.town
reflected in the slight glimmer of crystal
on a dancer’s tutu
purple matching the sky
above the tourists with babies and beer
the video cameras and the cellphones
that go flash flash flash
like
Christ.mas in the
Oaks
where mystical creatures rear their heads
from lakes, the snakes, the basilisksssss
or alligators, these swamp monsters
are snapping at the angels
swinging from trees
like beads
at
mar.di gras
the orange light from the floats
warming cold fingers
that reach for the last glittering
shoe
but new orleans is not like cinderella
we do not need the other shoe
content instead to hobble on past midnight
the city of dreams does not
need sleep
Ruthie, age 16
