(This afternoon’s militantly outraged female householder marching over to make her husband go be unkind to the lady in the van was a little bit younger and prettier than some of the others this poet has (not) been privileged to meet nearby ~ but one thing is certain: if she continues to model herself upon those others it won’t be long before that feminine difference is erased completely, and her husband, as well, begins to look as unhappy as do some of theirs.)

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Recorded Reading (2:22): https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/4ve9ns1kcuplvcebje7y3/from-the-Ladies.wav?rlkey=qj62z3g2v2djb7mfsrb5o1986&dl=0

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From the “Ladies” of Pueblo’s Old 24th Street Neighborhood Association to the Poet

We complain about the homeless
They’re untidy 
Eyesores
Drug addicted
Loud
And they throw garbage
Engage in prostitution
Party all night
Never work
And commit crimes

You
Are the last word in tidiness
We couldn’t do nearly as well
That’s a problem

You’re the opposite of an eyesore
In fact looking way too good
We couldn’t do nearly as well
That’s a problem

Your music
Is too beautiful too
Around our husbands
That’s a problem

Your poetry
Is world class
Around our local idol
That’s a problem

You do work
Night and day, in fact,
Seven days a week
None of us do
That’s a problem

You don’t take illegal drugs
Sell your body
Make noise
Litter

We never see you leave your van
So you can’t be committing crimes

What
Are we going to complain about?…

We don’t care that you’re in danger
In fact
We’d secretly
Just love it
If this stalker
Removed you from our

Um

For lack of a better word

“Awareness”

We’re not interested in getting to know you
We’re not interested in hearing your side of
Any
Story told about you

That would be justice

We’re much more into petty
Injustice here,
Thank you

And your light shines
Way 
Too 
Brightly

For our shadowy kitchen politics

That’s
Our
Problem

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This poet is physically disabled. Public housing being insufficient to her medical and creative needs, she is presently living, in order to continue working, in her minivan, publishing all of her works using one thumb on the touch screen of her smartphone, surviving at an income of a fraction of her nation’s poverty level. She would treasure any donation you might care to offer ~ http://www.UgiftABLE.com ● #72D-31S.

Please be aware that it takes several days for the poet to be notified of contributions. International patrons please contact the poet via email or post a comment for the necessary numbers.

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