Downstreet

peace and tranquility
are shattered
by the maul of reality
and the heavy hand of fate
is wrapped in the dark glove of the future
but the taste of defeat is raw and real
iron slick and bitter
worn smooth by abuse
and Karma is marching
down on me with roughshod feet
but the foot that sinks so deep
will also pull itself free
since what goes down
must also come up
what goes out must come back
after all my tomorrows
are heaped before me in a pile
i'll look back on this day
with an ironic smile

1971 December