the corner store

the corner spot
that seems like
an ideal locaation
and can't hold
a restaurant
for more than a
few months is
once again dark.
chinese, italian,
a greek deli,
a thai surprise
carryout, a
vitamin store,
campaign heaquarters
for someone who's
bound to lose
have all been there.
a mattress store
with bright yellow
posters saying
going out of
business, posted
on day one. but
it's never empty
for long,
and bums find a
way to sit out on
the front steps
drinking from a bags
with pigeons
and stray dogs
at their feet.
they seem to know.
and there's no
rhyme or reason
to what comes or
goes, the effort
is surely there
to make it work,
not unlike us,
and yet.