She falls
scraping her knee
on the concrete
dropping them.
Everything
rolling off the curb
into the gutter
to lodge
in the grate
above the sewer
above the rushing
raging fecal river.
She pauses
long enough to brush off the dirt
wipe up the blood
careful not to inhale.
One charm in the box
sweeter than the rest
a long-legged beauty
humming a familiar tune
over their white noise
at stiff lipped suits
making shiny promises.
Their dimes dropped and
digits flipped, at girls
who go to school
in the same stained dress
day after day.
Silent ones
drained of color
who hope for better,
knee-deep in filth
with only stiff smiles
out-stretched palms
and the dog-eared comics
of super heroes
to rescue them.
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Published by
C. S. De Dona
Author, Poet, Photographer, domestic violence survivor, and naturalized immigrant, Cornelia is currently an Arts and Letters member of The Southwest Florida Branch of The National League Of American Pen Women.
Cornelia lived in Kaneohe, Hawaii, for thirty-six years. Also, seven years in the Mid-Hudson Valley of New York. She now resides in North Fort Myers, Florida.
Her poems and photography are published in print, online, and in Rain Bird, a literary and art journal of the University of Hawaii's Windward Community College (2008-2013).
In 2013, Cornelia received Rain Bird's Kolokolea Poetry Prize for her poem, "Speaking French."
In 2015 her chapbook "Hawaiian Time," entered in the National League of American Pen Women's Vinnie Ream contest, was awarded third place in their inaugural multi-discipline category.
View all posts by C. S. De Dona
Corney Press 
Especially liked the last stanza, very good.
Jim
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thank you–and thank you for commenting!
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