These New York City Pigeons

cooing in the air shaft

are responsible for me

stubbing my toe

spraining my ankle

and getting sick on ammonia fumes

That pigeon roosting on the clothesline

stole my nightgown

Those pigeons on the street lamp

made me feel foolish

while riding in a black car

completely splattered

with their grey & white poo poo

These New York City pigeons

are not calm like pigeons of Oxalá in Brazil

and do not croon like doves of Zimbabwe

New York City pigeons moan

strange low mournful quivering cancer-like moans

mixed with

hungry hyena barks

& gulping loss of the forest cries

New York City pigeons

are not relaxed like

pigeons sunning at

Marcel Duchamp swimming pool in San Francisco

New York City pigeons are not happy like

pigeons standing on head of the woman

selling bananas on a street corner in Johannesburg

New York City pigeons

flap viral leather fungus dust from wings into faces

then sit on steps vocalizing & waiting

for the death of humankind

New York City pigeons

are not friendly like

pigeons eating flaky crescent-shaped rolls at

Hotel du Piémont in Paris

New York City pigeons

are not content

like pigeons

posing for photos on arms

of men in plaza of Caracas

New York City pigeons

will lounge on ledges

& murmur profanity all day

will fight for fucking space in

the mating season

shit on air conditioners

& wipe their asses on windows

while big cockroaches

suck Sucrets in the dark

New York City pigeons

are not alert

like pigeons

sitting quietly on bicycles

in peace memorial park of Hiroshima

New York City pigeons

roll their pearly eyes

inflate their throats

and defecate on the shoulders of pedestrians

New York City pigeons

have no love for crumb-throwing pigeon lovers

& no year of the pigeon is celebrated

at least

not for these New York City Pigeons

Source: On the Imperial Highway (Hanging Loose Pres, 2009)

The Black Arts Movement