A Coward

Moonlight on the starless night was silver,
Shining on New York and little pair.
They were walking along the East River:
Guy, who was a fast Jamaican sprinter,
Tiny girl with funky afro hair.

Guy, carried away with conversation,
Told the girl that once he, by the way,
During storm and without hesitation
Swam alone across Montego Bay,

Sky was throwing storm lightings and thunders,
He was fighting with the devil's tides...
And the girl just listened to these wonders,
Glancing at his brave and burning eyes.

Then she sighed and thought, all quite scoured:
"I would die if I was there with him".
She said: "You know, I am really coward.
To be honest, I can't even swim".

Guy then said that it was not that horrible,
Gave the frightened girl a little hug,
He said: "You know, you are just adorable
Even though you are a timid punk".

World flied up the air and slowly hovered,
As, midst garbage cans and stolen cars,
They kissed. And tonight, the world for coward
Was made out of music and the stars!..

So, that night, between summer and winter,
Walked, breathing New York's polluted air
Guy, who was a fast Jamaican sprinter,
Tiny girl with funky afro hair.

As they passed another ghetto quarter,
Moving even deeper into Bronx,
Two broad-shouldered figures, out of nowhere,
Appeared on the corner between blocks.

First one hoarsely growled: "Hey yo honey,
Stop right dere- and nobody is dead,
Watches, earrings, rings, a lil' money,
Hurry up before I blast yo head!"

Second one blowed clouds of smoke and watched,
How, all greyish-brown because of shiver,
Guy, who was a fast Jamaican sprinter
Was unbuckling rapidly his watch.

So, the smoker, very pleased hereafter,
Grinned at girl and shouted: "Hey you ho,
What is up?" and with a hoarsely laughter,
Blew his smoke into the girl's afro.

Everything mixed up and blast got bigger
Girl punched him directly in the nose,
And with words: "You scum! Pathetic nigger!"
Burned him, like his cigarette his clothes.

"Who you scaring? This is just outrageous!
Think you're big? Think I am gonna run?"
Her voice flowed, mean, angry and courageous:
"You got gun? And I don't care for gun!

Kill me? No, it wouldn't be forgotten
It is tooth for tooth and eye for eye
They gon' find you, hunt you 'till you rotten
Blast yo head and you are gonna die!"

Smoker mumbled: "Wo...wo...wo...wo, chill, jam..."
Girl looked in his eyes without a fear,
Other hummed: "Whatever, brotha, leave them",
And two figures quickly disappeared.

...Moon disk shined on block, like broken lamppost,
Lighting up the ground and concrete rocks...
Moon disk looked at block with quiet and deep thoughts,
Not wanting to light the rest of Bronx,

Where, together, without words and quiver,
Walked, not making any sound or clunk,
Guy, who was a fast Jamaican sprinter,
And the girl, a patsy, funky shiver,
"Coward" and a little "timid punk".