Bruce Dethlefsen: "White Stallions"

the children of the street
must see themselves
in the greasy puddles of the forenoon
in the sundown storefront windows
in the luster of the shoes they shine

must see themselves
in the reflection of a customer’s sunglasses
in the tears of the old women
in the shadow of the bus

the children of the street
must see themselves
flying purple kites on sunny beaches
dining with the family after church
riding white stallions

the children of the street
must see themselves

 
"White Stallions" by Bruce Dethlefsen. Text as published in Unexpected Shiny Things: Poems (Cowfeather Press, 2011). Presented here by poet submission.

Art credit: "Easy," photograph by Amber Henshaw. Part of a series posted by BBC News entitled "Photo journal: Ethiopia shoe-shine girl." Caption: "Meskerem, 12, is one of the few shoe-shine girls in Ethiopia's capital, Addis Ababa."