Unswept

Unswept

waiting
pointless
time frozen
in motionless brick
waiting for what?
something that won’t come
garbage in gutters,
by buildings,
in corners of the night,
waiting like me
to be swept up
and forgotten
the eternal sweeper sleeps
we rot, molding
in our filthy corners
putrid shadows
filth and human waste
blithering drunkenness
wander the streets midst
clattering heels
and black-jacketed
mini-skirted couples
sucking face
this fucking place
smoke-choked light
mirrored back
in stagnant puddles
against the black
ancient stains
unpainted
dried beads
of nervous sweat
brain clenches
stomach wrenches
sleep will not come easily tonight
broken, tainted
if it comes at all