Under the moon-
suspicious eye
the johns trail the streets
between dilapidated walls
with their red-lighted eyes they seek
the anonymous door
where a madam welcomes
any man with money
seeking the briefest closeness with
her drug-addicted girls.

The moon knows the darkness
and try her best
to send a ray of sunshine
into the hearts of fallen girls
who sense their father’s hands
in every client she receives

, and afterwards
a man goes home, to share
an evening with a dinner
with his wife and daughter
who will only feel his kindest part
he didn’t share before.

The moon above
will keep his secrets, but
the man will never dare to face
its vacant silver gaze.

Today Melissa hosts dVerse Poetics with a selection of pictures by Georgia O’Keefe which are not her flowers. In the picture above the first thing I noted was the red circle in the bottom which to me signaled a red lantern, which could be a brothel.

November 3, 2026