the soles of my shoes scuff
black-spotted concrete pavers
i wind my way past
withered faces
tied up bags
a crumpled newspaper never read
city doves flock the streets
innumerable like the homeless
equally maligned
i slip into gough’s sanctuary
sit and
listen to the opening of my heart
i watch the smile inside my eyes
and strain to look beyond the vagrant paintings from outside

Richard Diebenkorn – Nude on Black and White Stripes