didn’t get much sleep; looked at the cracks in the ceiling plaster
like I was studying some kind of churchill war room map
caught an old smoker bus going downtown at 6 am
sitting on green torn vinyl seats
stepped outside and took a shower in the humidity
still dripping wet saw the great masses moving
some briskly and brusquely striding with arrogance
others moved like cockroaches trying to avoid the bottom of a shoe
they skittered up silver and black tombs through cracks and floor moulding
I walked the downtown streets...a hometown boy among hometown strangers
guys trying to sell watches of dubious acquisition
construction trucks backing up beep beep beep
heard so often nobody pays attention anymore to their refrain-
they sing for no one
the yellow helmets with jackhammers
bulging muscles sticking out of intentionally too small t shirts
pounding away/// breaking up curbs and sidewalks
where people walked eighty years ago on their way to buy war bonds
talking about FDR or the new deal
storefronts advertising 39 cent a pound sirloin steak
long gone, demolished and carried away
vaudeville theatres beg remembrance
ghosts of dancers, magicians, ventriloquists - comedians
bustling union station now dormant and dilapidated
wearing a rusty sport coat and a dead carnation
awaiting a long awaited date with the wrecking ball
drawbridges raising their arms to the sky
as if reaching for holy salvation
big tall and wide boat passes by carrying salt for the roads
that they think they will need it in tons for the upcoming winter season
plenty of it in tears to go around
