The off duty students sat at a thin, graham ******* table
tossing pocket brushed animated cards down as
Ninja Scroll played on the counter perched JVC t.v.
You could hear them laughing, giggling, snickering,
then after 30 seconds of silence…“You just **ed me”
popped out, drawing only sly smiles and hidden eyes
After a few cracked knuckles, the decks were reshuffled
comically bent edges snapped under their calloused thumbs
I knew the lineup was being adjusted, the war far from over

Chapped heels are clacking messy rhythms
as tattooed bikes dart through honking traffic.

A cop waiving his gloves, orchestrates the lights &
tourists riding in humid mustard cabs with bloated bags.

Resident pigeons fly in alphabetical patterns looking for a bite
while commuting rats scatter home along warmed subway tracks.

After every performance the soles clap and groupie tires start screaming at the ring leader welcoming people to the show at the stitched crosswalks.