nyuuyoku

Another poem from 1994 -- and a photo of myself from 1997, observation deck, South Tower, World Trade Center; and a very brief time lapse shot of Manhattan and surroundings from the WTC, made by holding down the shutter button for a few seconds on a point and shoot camera. Today, wind clobbering the tops of fir trees, sun droning the twilight.

Brooklyn 2

By Jonathan Falk



I remember the city stacked in the night, a shattered bottle tipping into the dock. I remember birds arcing over the square, Korea town heights of hangul hair shops lit at twilight, the skin of waters, barges full of wood, pull downs lined on shops, piers slapping into gelid waters, the crumbling top of retirement home on Coney Island, birds attracted to its chalk yellow, concave recesses, eggs shrouded and skinny like skulls in divine manses, waterspouts, pigeon beaks and dwindling monuments, orange tea sipped through straws, the splash as boats anchor above wiry trees booming with the nostalgia of bleeding light in late afternoon, mica picked up by yachts and slouching driftwood, ocean liners hovering above bars of violet offing, a Jimi Hendrix impersonator playing notes to the square, speed chess and ginseng beer.