BLACKPATCH
Laura Nyro


invitations to my party
send jones an inviting card
he got his meanstreak from the gutter
got his kindness from god
now tugboats paint the river
carry coal to the city
in white dock liners
happiness on the uptown side
at my party in the morningtide
oo la la la blackpatch
clothespins on wash ropes
window to window tie
socks and bells and nightgowns
tassels in the morning sky
womanchild on the sidestreet
flashin' in blackpatch
lipstick on her reefer
waiting for a match...