getting soft…
hit the road….
amongst vagabonds…
whores…
cops on the take…
garbage men at dawn…

Greek diners at 3 a.m. …
guys with a watch to sell…
pushers and pimps…
flashing neons…
hustlers making eyes…
a well-groomed businessman…

Lexington Avenue…
Punjab palaces…
buffets in cellars…
kids on cells making transactions…
crazies killing time….
gotta light…

stealing sugar packets at Starbucks…
figuring out bathroom codes…
stalls with holes…
peek-a-boo-i-see-you…..
commerce commerce commerce…
america’s shining light…

getting soft…
hit the road…
amongst vagabonds…
whores…
cops on the take…
garbage men at dawn…

gunshots…
shelters…
parking garages…
alleys…
Central Park…
Port Authority…

a bench by the Hudson…
East River…
Union Square…
Madison Square…
a junkie is a junkie is a junkie is a junkie…
city take me in…

less comfort…
more writing…
starve awhile…
lose this flesh…
scrape your knuckles…
beware of the boys in blue…

getting soft…
hit the road…
amongst vagabonds….
whores…
cops on the take…
garbage men at dawn….