By the cheap, last-minute hearts and sweets,
Two cars kissed, on Valentine's Day at five.
A stringbean man and meaty woman
Stood screaming curses in the street.
The man retreated and spat at the woman.
All she could do was pound his car.
I hurried around the rude, slow throngs,
Stepping on the greyfilthed
ice and snow.
Above, the 4-train platform was cold
And quiet: no downtown train to be seen.
Across the tracks, a man took a piss
By a trashcan.
I could see the steam
Between his feet, but no train.
Then, beyond the tagged-up billboard back,
A heart rose. Someone on the
street
Had let it go. I watched it climb
Against the pale blue sky and smudgy clouds
Toward the unfinished moon.
-- February 2003