ON THE EL

Tearing down the el on Third Avenue

The contractors skimped on the work;

The market in shadows was poor

So they were just painted over and left.

Sometimes, during the debatable days

Between year’s end and year’s beginning,

The shadows cast the great work up again

Mile on mile of track and platform, girders,

Turnstiles, machines selling gum for a penny

Or soda for a nickel. The trains rumble by,

Passengers idly watching the street

Or lives lived beyond uncurtained windows

Look! There I am, holding my father’s hand

Looking at myself, pretending I’ve grown up.