POETRY IN MOTION (a geography primer)

I got off the bike.

I took a journey up Kearny,

got weary by Geary,

drank a beer on Spear,

smoked a joint on North Point,

and lost my way on Clay.

I'm looking handsome on Sansome

and feeling wholesome on Folsom.

I met a coward on Howard

who lives in a garrison on Harrison,

and a sailor on Taylor

who lives in a gutter on Sutter.

We drank tonics on Masonic,

met the Hulk on Polk,

who was straight on Haight

but turned gay on Bay.

We met a witch on Ritch

who reads the Tarot on DeHaro —

and tried to save us on Davis.

I saw a politician on Mission

who made a speech on Beach

about a welfare cheat on Treat

who uses food stamps to buy wine on Pine.

I saw a Giant on Bryant

who teamed up with a 49er on Steiner,

and went around beating up Dodgers on Rodgers

and Raiders on Shrader

(not to mention Lakers on Baker

and A's on Hayes).

You met a whore on Dore

who tried to rent'cha on Valencia;

I used to ball her on Waller,

& we'd fuck some on Bluxome,

& she would give great moans on Jones,

& would always come on Drumm.

I remember you well — you drove a bus on Russ

until it lost a wheel on Beale,

& then you used to park it on Market.

“Did I get your package to you quick enough, sir?”

“Thanks, Zoe Noe, you're humble and lovable.”

“Fuck you, sir!”

— by Zoe Noe

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