Downtown Vancouver,

concrete like stains

clinging to the parched

and flaky skin

of the city.

People in corners

bags patched like quilts

holding the lungs

and the cuticles

together.

Those decadent streelights

crooked candleabras

the homeless aristocrats

offer their palms

up to the sky

as a sign of

reverence.

Downtown Vancouver

subways and ballrooms

the dirt on the jewels

a film of dust

hovering over

this

city.