The Fourteen Street Playground

Two kids skipping class decide that there’s where they’ll meet.

The Fourteen Street Playground

Eight AM on Allen Street,
a young husband says goodbye.
He rushes down the stairs,
while adjusting his tie.

Ten AM on the corner of first,
a porter drags a bag to the street,
two kids skipping class decide
that there’s where they’ll meet.

A a waitress drops a spoon
in  the Habana cafe.
At the  fourteen playground,
it was just an ordinary day.

In the afternoon around one,
A pigeon lands on a sill,
there is noise on the street
where two workers drill.

At three PM full-time clerk 
folds shirts in the Broadway Gap.
She sees two tourists out the window
studying a paper subway map.

A a waitress drops a spoon
in  the Habana cafe.
At the  fourteen playground,
it was just an ordinary day.

At 6 PM, all the lights turn on,
and midtown comes alive.
The waiters wipe all the tables
before the theater patrons arrive. 

Eleven PM sailor checks his pocket
before he steps in McGee's Pub.
Way down on Twentieth Street,
there’s a line at the Limelight club.

A a waitress drops a spoon
in  the Habana cafe.
At the  fourteen playground,
it was just an ordinary day.