mean streets

his piercing eyes find meaning in all that's lost and swept away
a city that was never loved
empty buildings
and churches and schools
the story's over
the candle blown out
time has not been gentle

old bars line the street
a budweiser sign half blinks
the snow is thick
we watch as the man at the bar consoles a warm beer
and regrets the lose of innocense

he's raw
old and alive
and holds the beauty in his weathered hand

creative minds shine like a breath of fresh air
their breathing life into forgotten places
their building community out of cardboard
and doing a damn good job of it

golden wings are only getting brighter