he lit up
when another man
started playing
a bari sax
on his corner
the notes so
deep and mauve
riding streetwalks
like tourists
this man knew the capital
and the culture
on the bourbon strip
you could hear it in his smile
they would sit together
chatting through notes
of bass and sorrow
gold crossing gold
it was the subtlest
of victories
for a man whose
only friend was
his creator






9 old applause
