chuba

You Jump First
By Pedro Pietri

You jump first
one wino says to the other
do not dissapoint your friends
they have been waiting down there
in below zero tempature
for the past 365 days to see you
practice what you preached
do not wait until it gets dark
the lights do not work around
this neighborhood of old time religion
strangled by the police sirens
hurry up before the reverend
who shows you where the roof was at
changes your mind with
another bpttle of gypsy rose
& deports you back to night school
so you can learn how to count
& jump off higher buildings