Poem: Cruelty

Cruelty

Here in Pittsburgh, the world can find its cultures meeting on one little avenue.
That avenue is known as the Strip District – and no, not because of the profession.

There, sword props sit on display in the costume shops next to the princess gowns;
Comic books are always on sale for $1 to satisfy the desire of the local dork squad.
Food from various places is mounted on wooden stands and sold in bargain deals.
All can find a fish net sprawled and pegged a restaurant’s kitchen door; I visited once,
To meet with a chef within, looking for cheap fish to give to my diabetic father.
I remember the heat bouncing off of the white-tiled walls, and the creaking of
The ceiling fan made me woozy, within the center of a noisy sauna. I left with nothing.

Down the crowded streets I continued to walk; I cut through a puddle-ridden parking lot
And found a box of abandoned puppies, wailing between velvet lips. I gulped back tears,
And carried the dripping box all the way to Animal Friends. Within the old
Office’s confines I signed the tiny little beings away to the sweet stranger’s hands,
And kissed one good-bye, whispering my wishes for his finding a happy ending
When he left this place – be it the kennel, the city, Earth…all of the above.

I took off, tore down that street, slid into my car, stomped on the gas. I drove
Back to my best friend’s house, fuming. We went to his room, and sat on the bed
Where he began cradling me while I fought the hot frustrated tears yet again.

Damn it, humans, I cursed; one of you dared to dump puppies in a puddle-ridden
parking lot?! You all claim to love one another, with your sweaty hands
Entwined and glued – but no one picked up those little golden puppies!

And Pittsburgh wonders why I hate it and humanity so much? It’s because I see
No one worth my love within the city’s limits. All I ever see, on a daily basis,
Are forms of torture and cruelty, there on the avenue point where the world meets.