Brothel Shuttered

limp roses blue boots, vinyl, knee length hair extensions braided like sun-rings pleasure knick knacks perfume bottles lacey things that hug the bodice under garments, lipstick smudged stained dentures wrappers like scattered seed brothel trash bin overflowing young man slinks from the shadows picks up plum colored leggings "I knew her. My family thought me at church. But there's different ways of worship." brothel walls, graffiti gloom seem to whisper lost shuddering joy gasping delights restless yearning sighs that slip to groans I see a bedspring mattress 'gainst the wall charred remains smoked rawness air, dust brown heavy like her legend powerless voices quiet when the brothel closed sheared unapologetic in the hellish heat of gold. Poem composed: February 17, 2021