Caught between the twisted stars,
the plotted lines,
the faulty map that brought Columbus to New York.
Betwixt,
between the East and West,
he calls on her wearing a leather vest,
the earth squeals
and shudders to a halt.
A diamond crucifix in his ear is used to help
ward off the fear that he has left his soul
in someone's rented car.
Inside his pants he hides a mop to clean the
mess that he has dropped into the life of
some Juliet Bell.
And Romeo wanted Juliet.
And Juliet wanted Romeo.
And Romeo wanted Juliet.
And Juliet wanted Romeo.
Romeo Rodriguez squares his shoulders and curses Jesus,
runs a comb through his black ponytail.
He's thinking of his lonely room,
the sink that by his bed gives off a stink,
then smells her
perfume in his eyes,
and her voice was like a bell.
Outside the streets was steaming,
the crack dealers were dreaming of a Uzi someone had
just scored.
I bet you I can hit that light with my one good arm behind my back,
says little Joey Diaz.
Brother, give me another tote.
Those downtown hoods are no damn good.
Those Italians need a lesson to be taught.
This cop who died in Holland,
you think they get the one?
And I was dancing when I saw his brains run out on the street.
And Romeo had Juliet.
And Juliet had Romeo.
And Romeo had Juliet.
And Juliet had Romeo.
I'll take Manhattan in a garbage bag with Latin writ on it that says,
it's hard to give a * these days.
Manhattan's sinking like a rock until the filthy Hudson,
what a shock.
They wrote a book about it,
they said it was like ancient Rome.
The perfume burned his eyes,
holding tightly to her thighs.
Had something flickered for a minute,
and then it vanished and was gone.