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Valentine Avenue, Bronx NY

 

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

 

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