Red-Light District Poem by Sami Gjoka

If not doomed, not forbidden, not sinister
Must be daring, must be danger, must be dire
Even if you ended in wonder
Having no idea of these aisle
Stopping even simply to recover,
Even if your girl only smiles,
Even feeling tired and bewildered
Even if it’s simply to admire,
Even if not evil, it is scary
Therefore, mister, move a little further!

There are many, stops on every travel
But hey mister, don’t you jump in fire
Don’t you let your horses run wild;
Careful from these many happy, fickle
Girls filled with charm and tricky smiles
See the dust, look at each particle
Not each thing that will spark and glister
Shone by beams of passion and desire
Must be gold. But each bicker’s stickle
Even for a dime or for a nickel
All of a sudden might start at this aisle