Three Stand
face to face
toe to toe to toe
In the cold light
of way past dawn
screaming epithets
for the downcast eyes
and hustling footsteps
to not notice
pretend to not hear

Nigga I aint talkin a you
Nigga I AINT talkin a you
I SAID NIGGA I aint TALKIN A YOU

They stand
In the cold light of day
They three
in the sad cold empty
not quite shutter locked
store front
of the dirty city
and cry
to be heard
over the cruel silence of the city
and the plaintive cry
of the gulls