(the Jungle on) 41st Street

Hunched shadows rush through,
Like grim smears on the side walk.
Stale rain huddles in corners
and curls up under a traffic jam.

Painted with fishnet wings
And soaked in lipstick cherry red
The midnight members band together
Slender vixen, benches draped in filth
Crooked dumpsters and spider-webbed cobble-stone.

The street corners slouch against slanted brick buildings,
Painted wish fishnet wings and cigarette perfume,

Dark cars with tinted windows breeze by,
Forgetting how this scene can sneak up on a vehicle.
Make a right off Jefferson and without warning,
There it is,
41st
Splayed out like last week’s Glamour