you walk
down 4th avenue
crossing
intersections with
such
innocence - gazing at
gargantuan
sidewalks
you look
amused at the vexing proximity
of starbucks
to other starbucks
and of the
dazzling heights
of erect
concrete and steel
your gait,
full of blamelessness
of the
chilly city air,
cuts between
the melting pot
of crowds at
madison park
your smile
stops even the
coldest of
wall street suits
who do a
double take
on your
figure
your
decision to buy
i love ny
shirts
claiming its
a must buy
brings your naïveté
to attention
you give
away your ignorance
when you buy
three-
dollar
snickers bars
in the name
of 'charity'
you profess
your love of oreos
and of the
salvation army
but hesitant
to say
you love
mother america
are you
flitting through life
skipping
across 27th street
stared down
by yiddish grandmothers
and nineteen
year olds (?)
where do you
think you are going
enrolled in
f.i.t.
but dressed
like
a whore with
a missouri accent (?)
are you
afraid of the
liberal
backlash of your
disillusioned
lesbian friends
who didn't
vote at all (?)
are you afraid
of the
conservative
backlash of your
disillusioned
republican parents
who voted
democrat (?)
your smile
fades away
and the
suits leave your side
as your gaze
meets mine-
you finally
notice me
hello
darling
its been a
while
here i am,
just as much
of a hypocrite as you
