Annie's a Lachrymose Ten Year Old

clutching a black and white photograph
of a pure white lacy two year old
as if it were a daguerreotype

from the Gilded Age of wrap around
porches with fine China tea sets
and maple trees on Maple Street
she once saw in a magazine.

But four flights down the walk-up tonight
prowling around on the street
are dog pack boys at midnight
looking for bitches forever in heat

as a hot August city breeze blows
and a midnight ragged Annie decides
it's time to put a thirty year old
photograph down and go to sleep.