Tuesday, September 13, 2011

NORTH PHILADELPHIA ON A COLD WINTER MORNING

North Philadelphia on a cold winter morning.
All the working class lovers leaving their lovers' warm beds,
meeting the cold air.
Getting on the train above Kensington Avenue.
Watching the landscape of rooftops and icy streets, below.
Quiet, grey skies and abandoned buildings becoming nature.

Her warm body covered by a winter coat,
her flesh just recently caressed.

She will ride the train, she will sit next to strangers
She will enter the day with a cold body & chapped lips
Her neck was just kissed, her thighs caressed.
The skin on both were warm & soft
She doesn't look happy, but she might be.

JOEY & KARIN, RIDING THE TRAIN

Joey has "Joey" tattooed on his neck,
he keeps pushing her hair from her face to behind her ear
They are both in their mid-40's
They are riding the train to Frankford, to the Northeast

Officer Gritsko is in a white shirt
He is watching the couple, too.
The man lets the woman listen to his headphones,
her head is on his shoulder.
They ride the train.

He gives her a sip of his soda, her legs are in his lap.
"Karin" is tattooed on his hand, the hand that touches her leg.
The tattoo is beginning to fade.
Joey & Karin, riding the train.