east greenbush

new york

tom's diner

(Suzanne vega)

I am sitting
In the morning
At the diner
On the corner

I am waiting
At the counter
For the man
To pour the coffee

And he fills it
Only halfway
And before
I even argue

He is looking
Out the window
At somebody
Coming in

“It is always
Nice to see you”
Says the man
Behind the counter

To the woman
Who has come in
She is shaking
Her umbrella

And I look
The other way
As they are kissing
Their hellos

I’m pretending
Not to see them
Instead
I pour the milk

I open
Up the paper
There’s a story
Of an actor

Who had died
While he was drinking
It was no one
I had heard of

And I’m turning
To the horoscope
And looking
For the funnies

When I’m feeling
Someone watching me
And so
I raise my head

There’s a woman
On the outside
Looking inside
Does she see me?

No she does not
Really see me
Cause she sees
Her own reflection

And I’m trying
Not to notice
That she’s hitching
Up her skirt

And while she’s
Straightening her stockings
Her hair
Has gotten wet

Oh, this rain
It will continue
Through the morning
As I’m listening

To the bells
Of the cathedral
I am thinking
Of your voice…

And of the midnight picnic
Once upon a time
Before the rain began…

I finish up my coffee
It’s time to catch the train

 

A Trip to Sesame Street

It's a magic carpet ride
Every door will open wide
To happy people like you--

Can you tell me how to get,
How to get to Sesame Street...

57th Street

new York city

2013

(Bruce Springsteen - Incident on 57th Street)

Johnny was sittin' on the fire escape

 watchin' the kids playin' down the
street,
He called down,

"Hey little heroes, summer's long

 but I guess it ain't very sweet around here anymore,
Janey sleeps in sheets damp with sweat,

 Johnny sits up alone and watches her dream on,

dream on,
And the sister prays for lost souls

then breaks down in the chapel

 after everyone's gone.
Jane moves over to share her pillow

 but opens her eyes to see Johnny up and putting his clothes on,
She says,

"Those romantic young boys,

all they ever want to do is fight,
Those romantic young boys,

 they're callin' through the window:
Hey,

Spanish Johnny,

 you want to make a little easy money tonight?"