…used to
date meat
at arsalan
and tango with rugby
at armenian
used to
learn to speak
at mr. engineer’s
and rhapsodize
on concertos
at dr. gazdar’s
(in between operations
where he
kept me alive
as my
pediatrician)
used to ponder on
migrations
at jewish girls
highschool conventions
and wonder
how
st thomas
doubted enough
to be buried
in indian turf
used to
inhale
smoke and smog
and dirt and dog
and exhale
diversity
that made this city
a cool shaded flury’s
in the midst of chaotic
tragedy
and now yougonna
purify me
tellyouwhat-
i’ll take my beef with you
i eat my meat
red
and
sacred