More New York moments—they just don’t want to quit:
Boy practices hip hop dance moves in schoolyard.
Man pours coffee on shoe, cleans off dog shit.
Sign on tree: Lost earring, thousand dollar reward.

Old woman stops, takes out teeth, wipes them clean.
Man in line at bank, dog in pocket of coat.
Arm-linked couple—free hands hold cell phones.
Hair-dresser on sidewalk?  Ah, prep for movie shot.

At Juilliard, it’s Shostakovitch played with a fist.
Rollerblader carrying (huh?) a deer’s head.
Lowcut blouse—cellphone tucked between breasts.
Beggar I stiff: “You can’t take it with you, Bud.”

At restaurant’s outdoor table, lone mother 
with baby in one hand, glass of wine in the other.


© 2006 by Philip Dacey. All rights reserved.