Crossing Under The Hudson

Crossing under the Hudson
      Goodbye New York

Welcome Lincoln Tunnel
      Pathway, portal, gateway
To discoveries outward
            Past the land of Lincoln
                  Past the land of T.R.
      Past the land even of Lewis & Clark

Out where the broad breezes blow
      Out where the sky never ends
            Out where the mountains
      Reach higher even
Than the skyscrapers of Manhattan

Crossing under the Hudson
      Hello New York

Welcome Lincoln Tunnel
      Pathway, portal, gateway
To discoveries inward
            Back from the land Lincoln
                  Back from the land of T.R.
      Back from the land of Lewis & Clark

Back from the where the broad breezes blow
      Back from where the sky never ends
            Back from where the mountains
      Reach higher even
Than the skyscrapers of Manhattan

But back home
            Hello
      Back home
                  Welcome
            Back home
                        Missed you


For Conversations With Walt
Denis J. Kelly
July 17, 2011

Frumpy Smith Drove The Scow

Frumpy Smith drove the scow
      Through the quiet suburban neighborhood
            Beat up old truck
                  Snarling gears
            Exhaust pipes smoking
      Bald tires, sides dented
Gargling sounds from under the hood

Picking up newspapers
      Tossing the recycling into the hopper
            Swaying back and forth
      Across narrow manicured streets

Late afternoon sun
      Streaking through leaf-engorged trees
            Unreasonably hot mid-summer's day's swelter
                  Getting to the recycling
            After homeowners put it out
      But before the town picks it up
Hey, finder's keeper's losers miss out

Frumpy Smith drove the scow
      Through the quiet suburban neighborhood
            Beat up old truck
                  Snarling gears
            Exhaust pipes smoking
      Bald tires, sides dented
Gargling sounds from under the hood


For Conversationa With Walt
Denis J. Kelly
July 15, 2011

Ah, Athletes

Ah, athletes
      Getting out
            Walking
In the world-outside

Breathing
      Feeling blood surging
            Flowing
Getting warm

Stretching muscles
      Looking around
            Noticing
Nature in abundance

Squirrels, birds
      Dogs unleashed in a field
            Running
                  Playing
            Retrieving
      Herding

Seeing other humans in pursuits
      Bikes
            Blades
                  Scooters
            Pushing carriages
      Pushing swings

Rolling down the window
      Drop the top
Drive around the park

Soccer
      Softball
            Football
                  Frisbee
            Kites
      Whatever

Ah, athletes
      Getting out
            Walking
In the world-outside


For Conversations With Walt
Denis J. Kelly
July 15, 2011

Standing On 42nd And Eighth

Standing on 42nd and Eighth
      Catching one last long look
Before ducking into Port Authority
      Before heading out to destinatons west

There's a place where you can look
      Down 42nd to see the Chrysler Building
And also through the building tops several clicks to the right
      To see the Empire State Building
Best friend spires from another era
      Points on top of stacks of floors

The shorter building looking like right out of
      A Superman or Dick Tracy comic strip
The Metropolis legend, its lofty corners
      Curved, melted, smelted into shapes
That caress the sky with slippery steel
      Shining bright and clean whenever the sunlight hits

The other the venerable old general
      Like George Washington standing square shouldered
Not the fancy shapes of the Chrysler
      And having been dethroned for a quarter century
By the dear departed twins
      For whom this building of concrete and windows
            Still seems to weep, its burden heavier now
      That the job, "tallest in the city,"
            Has once again fallen across its back
Like the yoke holding the farmer's plow oxen

Slowly, gradually, dutifully it has returned
      To claim the mantle, its former stature as tallest
            But only reluctantly, gladly it would relinquish the title
      If only its younger step-siblings
Could once-again be raised

Standing on 42nd and Eighth
      Catching one last long look
Before ducking into Port Authority
            Before heading out to destiantions west


For Conversations With Walt
Denis J. Kelly
July 6, 2011

Two Trains Chasing Schedules

Two trains chasing schedules
      Elizabeth to Newark

This commuter six-car
      And the multi-car freight alongside
Hulking boxcars blocking out the sunrise
      The trains moving up and back
            As if their respective motormen
      Were frustrated race car drivers
            Dragging like in a scene from rural teen mythology
                  See who will chicken first
      See who will reach the sweetheart's multicolored kerchief

            The rails split
      The freight's path bends right
Commuter six-car speeds straight ahead
      Playtime is over
The race is done
      Or at least this heat
This wake-up call

Come back and play tomorrow

Two trains chasing schedules
      Elizabeth to Newark


For Conversations With Walt
Denis J. Kelly
July 6, 2011

Heading Out The Door

9:40 a.m. heading out the door
      Heading out to see what's in store
            Heading out to peel back the core
Heading out and it's no chore
      Heading out and I want more
            Heading out and I'm drawn to the lure
      As if circumnavigating the dance floor
                  With my darling Le Fleur
9:40 a.m. heading out the door


For Conversations With Walt
Denis J. Kelly
July 6, 2011