Summary

The narrator describes a homeless man: he has mismatched shoes, torn and dirty clothes. The man’s only bed is wherever he can find a few moments of seclusion. The narrator reflects that the man is an “eyesore” (Line 9) who doesn’t belong anywhere. The man has a disheveled, matted beard, but clear and focused eyes. He tells the narrator his name is Dionysus and asks for some money. The narrator clarifies: “the god of wine and revelry?” (Line 24). Dionysus is pleased the narrator remembers him.

Analysis

“Gods in the Streets” opens with a quotation from an earlier poem: “‘Crowding for warmth with other unknown divinities / in an underpass at night.’ —Charles Simic's ‘Tattooed City’”. This serves as the poet’s inspiration and sets the scene for the reader. The poem then begins with a series of observations, moving from an objective account to...