Desire Runs Parallel to Piety

Desire runs
Parallel to Piety
in New Orleans

These same streets
traffic the
music of reason
for the traveller

These same streets
Provide too much
fodder for the poetic cattle
herded here
beyond reason
and unreasonable warnings

The curly trim on the
shotgun with the
only echoes of jazz
Left on the street
remains
waiting to be sung to
waiting for rescue

The children play
cautious with the gentlehearted pets
poets
not quite certain
if they are permanent replacements
for missing playmates

There are as many
Trails of Tears
out of this City
as there are residents who had to leave it

The way back in
must run
has to run
somewhere between
Piety
and Desire.