veins and
 
 brain cells.
 
 I was high.
 
 I ran through
 
 the alley,
 
 inconsolable,
 
 turned down
 
 the sidewalk,
 
 invincible,
 
 five minutes
 
 later,
 
 I was scared.
 
 Night Had Hung
 
 a sultry, black curtain,
 
 sequined gold.
 
 It would have been
 
 quite beautiful in another part of town.
 
 But here, cars
 
 cruised slowly,
 
 checking out the
 
 tightly knit groups
 
 crowding sidewalks
 
 and doorways.
 
 Here,
 
 color
 
 was everything,
 
 skin color,
 
 hair color,
 
 the color of
 
 your jacket.