I. CHICKENS br br I am The Great White Way of the city: br When you ask what is my desire, I answer: br "Girls fresh as country wild flowers, br With young faces tired of the cows and barns, br Eager in their eyes as the dawn to find my mysteries, br Slender supple girls with shapely legs, br Lure in the arch of their little shoulders br And wisdom from the prairies to cry only softly at br the ashes of my mysteries." br br II. USED UP br br Lines based on certain regrets that come with rumination br upon the painted faces of women on br North Clark Street, Chicago br br Roses, br Red roses, br Crushed br In the rain and wind br Like mouths of women br Beaten by the fists of br Men using them. br O little roses br And broken leaves br And petal wisps: br You that so flung your crimson br To the sun br Only yesterday. br br III. HOME br br Here is a thing my heart wishes the world had more of: br I heard it in the air of one night when I listened br To a mother singing softly to a child restless and angry br in the darkness.