1.   piano

      In the Lobby, Not the Doorman

      In the evening when people arereturning home

anxious to abandon the strain ofthese attentions,

he comes downstairs from hisapartment

and stakes out the bench in thelobby

by the elevators where he haseverybody

who enters the building trapped

into socializing with him, if byeven

no more than an annoyed nod and atired

look away from a cheer come of thepredatory.

      Their dresses, how good they look,how he’ll be up

for dinner at their place in aminute,

how he knows you out there makin’all that money.

      The people in this building are outthere

making like he must have at onetime.

Or done, made it and sat down.These floors aren’t cheap.

He’s harmless. But how we hauntour own success.

2.    bass

urban specific

standing on the corner begging

for company      a little change

in conversation      somethingdifferent

made      of to have to come up with

by the see you later      or else

be in that killing

loneliness of a room      even on thestreet

stopping people      still leftalone –

old      crime      neither poor nor disorderly

just vagrant time’s       old crimeof age

unaddressed      victim norperpetrator    just

a man whose only empty pockets areof people

come around       asks if you can spare a little

while     so he can make the train home

3.   saxophone

      Then There’sThis One, Pick Him Up

pick him up andtake him to the jail

of his winnings,take him into house arrest

up from hissuccess, winner lifted

out of his easyto get to by people,  drive      

the diamond underhis fingernail

up through theflesh to pimple as

his wearing andpop light in folks’ eyes

having his nothingcome from

funny money–

but a callous diseasefrom discipline

that cuts him offis no joke 

no plus

size chile who’sgot    nor his own

he’s somebodyelse’s crime for his time

4.   drums

      Funds for Charity

An angry generosity

comes from the careless hold hehas

on what little he has;

      much is taken.

And angered if not from that, thenthat

he goes along with his losses too

passively,

      too pride-hustled to question.

      So, he

is always wanting back,

never clear he has given, onlysure

the gleaners expect too much.

      Then, angry resentment

at the little he has for spill

compared to that his privilege has

to flurry from      for him, forwhite’s own

      on its white landfill,

that cold storm of trickle down

from coffers vast and out ofreach,

privately owned as the sky,

      the deaf sky.