Your Shoes, This City
Luisga Bou
“Shoo, shoo,” they say.
Okay. Okay. Will do. Out to the street.
My hands are dirty, and they stink of mice.
I ain’t remember losing my shoes and shirt, but I did.
Cement. Cobblestone. Bits of grass. No difference under numb toes.
“This city has been blessed by God.” I say out loud, “again and again, century after century,” I
say this again and again, street after street, but after the fifth street, people stop tuning in, as
they know now that I took too much of what you can’t take too much of, but it’s okay. It’s Sunday.
And while they ain’t want me in church, I’ll sit outside, on the steps, and watch the people go by,
and the organ will seep out from inside, and I’ll shake, I’ll sway, and the blood from my feet will
puddle in cobble, into the crevices, the old, old ridges, and it will dry there, raised catholic clay,
and I’ll pray. I’ll pray.
It’s okay. It’ll fade soon. Fear of God. Blah of Blah. Shoo, shoo. I’ll leave. The bells are ringing.