East Houston Street

I see a poor man on the street

And call him Charlie Chaplin

He smiles at me

And tips his invisible hat

As he silently

Tiptoes around The Lion’s Cage

We know as the world

I give a teenage mother the name “Hero”

Rather than “Whore”

She waits to saved by her own

As her small boy clings to his,

Made of plastic

Shall I call the drug dealer Dr. Manhattan?

His eyes of electric blue

As the bag of happiness and all-knowing

Are protected from the cold,

He longs for a new happiness

And prays to the All-Knowing

Here comes Marilyn,

The busy,

Beautiful woman on high heels

And the eyes of the men who watch

Whisper she’s easy

She knows she isn’t

In fact,

She of all people

Knows how uneasy it is to become a woman

Her scars would show proof

Now, I listen

I hear an angry man

Sipping his “Large” Latte,

Because “Vinti” is gay,

He accuses

Those who love

And damns the right to love

Shouting evil to all

Who are not man and wife

No one told him

That his man

Loved him back

I hear a music maker

And make him Johnny Cash

His fingers tremble

But his heart numbs

And possesses him

To make East Houston street

Feel his grief

But share his love

I drop five dollars in his guitar case

And thank him

I see the faces of the people

Who watch and judge

They see nothing more

Than an ugly mistake,

A filthy danger,

Another reason to finish school

I shift my backpack

From my left to my right

The cheap,

Thin strap threatens

To tear,

But would first

Leave a permanent line of red

On my shoulder

My friend would say

“You’re trying to look cool”

and I say,

“This is all I have”

She doesn’t believe me

Instead,

I give a nod to Charlie Chaplin

Let my head rock back and forth

To Johnny Cash’s guitar

Marilyn looks me head to toe

And Dr. Manhattan is surprised

That I look him in the eye

What do they see?

Dr. Manhattan sees a girl

Who doesn’t know

What suffering is

Marilyn wishes she had my hair color

Johnny Cash wishes my backpack were his,

Book-filled and all,

And Charlie Chaplin sees a young lady

Who reminds him of his daughter, Evelyn

What they don’t see,

Is a girl

Who fights the tempting

Quiver in her hand

With a miracle worker of 100 mg

A girl who’s wardrobe

Is a thrift store

Not because it is hipster,

But because she needs food

For the following day

A girl who constantly loses a battle

With a guardian occupied by alcohol

And bipolar disorder

A girl who surprises herself

Every day,

With the simple fact that she

Still has the power to smile

I put a skip in my step

And ask a favor of one

Who loves unconditionally:

Give the world my eyes,

Let them see that

When I tiptoe, I am Charlie Chaplin

When I protect, I am a hero

When I seek shelter, I am Dr. Manhattan

When I feel beautiful, I am Marilyn

When I am angry, I remember that I can love

When I share my heart, I am Johnny Cash

When I fight for who I am, I am myself

When I see you, I am asking you to see.