Parsifal in So Ho


Parsifal s'looking for the cup in So Ho
decked out in leather, studded
silver bracelets, polished black
round toed boots.
He's a flaming red-head now,
shorn clean but for one spiky
magenta fantail
standing on end.

What he sees would make
any soul's hair rise
grail mongers pawn the cup
gallery to gallery,
the jewels are long gone uptown
sitting fat and abandoned;
window prisoners of Tiffany's and Winston's.

Parsifal worries through plain clothes shops
trading flowing red cape for
faded jean jacket...
gilded saddle and white horse
for the rough ride of the
downtown IRT.

One last hope leaves him at
Spring Street where he stumbles
out of the maze of the east village -
the Grail Castle rises on Houston
gaudy and medieval as ever
the church of St. Anthony in Padua
where the Fool spies the cup
in the arms of the ancient
punk-clipped santo.
Parsifal takes the cup to
his lips vicariously
watching Anthony
kiss the Christ Child.




The Seal of Creighton University
This page is managed by
Fr. Raymond A. Bucko, S.J.
of the Department of Sociology and Anthropology
at Creighton University.

E-Mail: bucko@creighton.edu

Page Last Updated: December 1, 2001