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Copyright © 2003 By Miriam Axel Lute
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Miriam Axel Lute
June 2003
"FLOWER SHOP" | "DECAYING MORAL FABRIC"
- FLOWER SHOP
Open 24 Hour
What business does
a sidewalk florist get
in the hours furthest from
Wall Street’s midday frenzy?
Forgive-me bouquets from stockbrokers
who stayed in the office until 1am, again?
A sprig of eucalyptus for a cabbie
who wants to neutralize the lingering breath of bar-flies?
Or maybe nothing.
Maybe the sign is
just good for business –
people buying flowers at rush hour
are attracted to the image: the stalwart
of the sleepless city
standing under a 2-foot overhang
in the midnight rain
his only company the roses
he is steadily denuding
until they are
buds again.
- DECAYING MORAL FABRIC
1 Emperor’s Old Clothes
I heard on the radio today
five times
about our decaying moral fabric.
Our politicians have been busy
taking the wool sweaters of their
childhoods out of storage
They weep and wail
imploring us to look at the
moth holes and bullies’ tears.
I don’t see any holes.
To me they just seem
outgrown.
2 A Vision
Good sweet decay
long overdue
I shall shout for joy
when you come
Then the leather belts
that have beaten the fear of
God and each other
into generations
will soften into mush
Then the elastic in a thousand
girdles will disintegrate
into breath and womanly curves
Holes will grow in widening ripples throughout the rugs
that gay teens and unorthodox families
have been swept under
until they step out and stand tall among us
The curtains of shame
drawn across black eyes
and bruised hopes and I can’t
leave and this is private business
will hang in unmendable tatters
with the sunlight streaming through.
Pinocchio patches of mold will spread
across the expensive suits of preachers
one for every deceit, every mistress, every prideful judgment of their neighbors
When the clock strikes midnight
the designer labels will fall off
every blouse, tie, and handbag
and the doormen and the police
will no longer know who belongs.
Welcome decay
Without you death never gets
turned into life again.
Copyright © 2003 By Miriam Axel Lute
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