Porta Portese
“—if it once gleamed, if it ticked, if it buzzed, if it
oiled eterÂnal youth, if it whisÂpered
on an old tape with the sexÂual lure of inÂfiÂnite
cash, if it said I am your priÂvate
casÂtle and you are a queen, if it lit a thouÂsand
bulbs, if it shaved a thouÂsand hairs, if
it declared God loves you, if it promised
to cure hareÂlip eczema scaÂbies rage,
if it clipped hangÂnails, if it delivÂered proverbs, if it hugged
the ass—it’s laid out on a colÂlapsiÂble
table or a mat on asÂphalt, money will change
hands, money will change us
all, change GypÂsies proÂfesÂsors NigeriÂan whores
limpÂing chilÂdren drugged baÂbies
iPodÂded teens SoÂmaÂli reÂfugees artists in
drag ilÂleÂgal AlÂbaÂniÂans cruisÂing pols We said
one world We said isn’t my money good enough
for you Switch blade Switch banks The CloaÂca
MaxÂiÂma acÂcepts all curÂrenÂcies The Tiber
leaks yelÂlow between its legs venÂeÂreÂal
venÂerÂaÂble duÂty-​free luxÂuÂriÂous silken ripÂpling
classiÂcal waves sold and solÂdered solved reÂflectÂed here—â€
— Rosanna Warren