Night Blind 

“Kim! Kimba!” 

“What?!” 

“Where you at?!” 

“Up the block!” 

The Tenderloin streets 

are narrow 

ambulance sirens 

bounce off the SROs 

like ricochets 

long term residents 

plug their ears 

while longer term residents 

go deaf 

“Kim!” 

“Up here!” 

Street people 

have their own bird calls 

wolf whistles, owl hoots 

to identify themselves 

to their neighbors 

“Kim?” 

“You’re almost here.” 

I finally see her 

out the window 

palms out and feeling for each 

parking meter and fire hydrant 

night blind 

and no spectacles 

“Kim?” 

“Yeah?” 

“I got that nickel you wanted.”