Midnight Lovers

Midnight Lovers
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“Midnight is striking—
in a cold drizzle of rain
two men are parting”
—Richard Wright, Haiku #74
This Other World

Was Wright the writer—
Author of “Native Son” in
Love with James Baldwin?

Would their tight embrace—
Perish from the earth like Job
No name in the street?

They had to get out—
The accents of violence
Drove them to Paris
_____________________

Or else they’d end up—
Like young gay Wayne Lonergan
Killing his rich wife

A notorious—
Brutal 1943 murder case
Involving Baldwin

Lonergan argued—
With his wife over his gay
Harlem sexcapades
_____________________

Before Baldwin could—
Talk with Lonergan about
Gay marriage he jumped

Lonergan had jumped—
Into the Hudson River
Baldwin was distraught

Such str8t marriages—
Were covers for gay lifestyles
Dime a dozen things
_________________________

Wayne’s marriage had failed—
His wife wouldn’t go along
With Baldwin in bed

Wayne jumped off the bridge—
Baldwin threw his wedding ring
Into the Hudson

Close to the bridge where—
Wayne committed suicide
Tragic tangled love
_________________________

He’d just broke up—
With a woman he almost
Married but it failed

A local bar queen—
Said “Get out—you’ll die if you
Stay here much longer.”

A one-way ticket—
To Paris with just $40
In his back pocket