Portland
We are proud of the old shanghai tunnels in this town
now dissected by the basements of lawyers and rug merchants.
Once the tunnels lead drugged sailors back to their pressed lives.
We hold the them up as if to say,
See, we were wild once — back in the day, back in the day.
Now we have a basketball team and a gay mayor.
See how far we have come?
Now we drive hybrids and recycle and remember fondly
when things were rough and racy.
See how we care?
We have a home –an empty lot– for the homeless out by the airport.
See how we care?
Now we lead west coast cities in child sex trafficking — no really, you didn’t know?
If a child sleeps on the street here, they are likely forced into prostitution within forty eight hours.
We eat local and coach soccer
and sleep easy in our beds beside the streets far meaner now than ever.
At least the sailors of the 1800s chose their trade and it’s dangers.
By the way, have you tried that new pinot noir from the Dundee hills?
It’s full-bodied with notes of chocolate and cinnamon and leaves the palate cleaner with no hint of a rising gorge.
