street symphony

we lived underground
in bunkers and stations
fallen out of use
and slept on grates
in the alleyways and played dress up
from green and blue boxes marked “free”
sharing space
on a stained couch
with a friend or three
in an overcrowded room
in a rundown house
was a delicious dream come true
counting out dimes and nickels
drooling at the sight of
uncooked ramen
ignoring the smell
of fried chicken and roast beef we’d never see
hawking our wares on the corners
before the dawn light broke the sky
lighting candles filched from temples
whose doors are closed to us
to pray
for the dead
among us