Over-The-Rhine 
Where Once Dreams
Flowed In Streams 
From Beer Gardens
Life Has Long Since Hardened
For St. Pauli Girls
Who Served Foam
Find Home
On Church Steps
It Can't Be Helped
Ladies Of The Night
Serve In Sunlight
Futures Frozen
They Are Chosen
Not By Those In
Lederhosen
Guarded Through Days
By Knights Who
Pay The Cost
To Be The Boss-es
With The Priceless
Replaceless
To Those Who Can't Face This
Part Of The 'Nati
Faceless
Boogiemen, Monsters  and Haints
Never Claiming Title Of Sinners Nor Saints
A Soul Is A Luxury
When You Got To Eat
Fresh Fruit For Rotting Vegetables
A Still Life Unsketchable
Hawked At The Market Findley
Saturday Morning Friendly
Faces From Faraway Places
Buy Shopping Bags
Filled With Flowers Meats and History
From Kids And Wino-Hags
They Wish Not To See
Streets Filled With Rats and Maggots
Cars Cruise For Those They'd Beat Down As Faggots
Kept On The Down Low
It's Just Another Ho' 
Gold Daisy Dukes 
And
Purple Wig
Jiggin For A Gig
He's Gotta Have It 
In The Alley
He'll Ride Sally Ride
Alongside 
A Child On The Stoop 
In A High Chair 
And Where
Is Mama
In This Drama ?
In Jail 
Gramama On The Phone
With The Tale
Giving The Scoop
Baby's Daddy
Been Done Gone
Found Something Better
No Call Or Letter
Skidrow Joe Lurches
Down 15th And Race With His Bottle
Five-O On The Chase Full throttle
In Storefront Churches
Preacher Calling Out
Big Mamas Jump and Shout
From The Spirit 
Don't Fear It
You Can Hear It
Sirens
Hit The High Note
Kids On The Curb
Play 
"That's My Car"
Wishes At Work Do Not Disturb
Hope Floats
In The OTR 

**********

This poem reflects current life in 
Over-The-Rhine, a neighborhood in Cincinnati, 
which was once inhabited by German immigrants 
who likened the area surrounding the Rhine 
river in Germany. Those who founded the area 
have long gone via the "white flight" 
and this is a summary of the daily plight 
of those who remain there.