John the Revelator
We streetcar’d down-
town cruising our
morning on Canal
this was about the time
of the Challenger
blowing up on take-off
we went into Woolworth’s
for roasted nuts talking
Challenger ache for true
a hobo at the checkout
summed it up for everyone
throwing out his arms
shouting ain’t that Challenger
just like my life, bro
I go shooting up into the sky
everything’s going
along just fine
then… bam
portents flew from space
sons of John the Revelator
stalked the sidewalks
preaching bam
Photograph © D Young.
Preacher on Canal, New Oreans, 1986.
Poem © R Young
studio arago 