poet's for hire

Down on Frenchmen's Street, in front of club d.b.a, there stands three poets for hire.  They have made their offices on the sidewalk simply with a chair, a tv table and an old-fashioned typewriter.  Commissions are between $10-20, but smaller fees are fine.
You just tell them any topic then come back in about twenty minutes so they can do their thing.
I love that he wanted to read it first to me so it's clear upon handing it over.


Exploding in cement crack
rhythms the bums call softly
out there still euphoria
before the falling.


And jazz stands reknown
takes unbridles bristled
flight to the snare and
trap of banging, bloated
laughter.


Without a doubt in search of
simple, easy meaning,
the drinks flyfalling
from the grip of those
shed their feeling.


But stranded among the 
hoy paloy, in slacking
gummy freight,


we gaze upon cathedral
clouds lit flashing.


And flee the roaming storm
as surely as the gulls


to bend our minds ever 
to the morning.

-tristan bennett  (saturday nights)