On Line
New York is waiting on line
Beautiful young people patiently bide time
Amicably chatting in the cold sunshine.
The longest lines are for caffeinated concoctions
matcha lattes, designer espresso,
The latest nut butter infused and foamed drink.
When summer hits, white umbrellas are offered
To shield tender skin from solar rays.
Lines snake down concrete for; trendy cheap fashion,
Fancifully embellished cookies,Tic Toc trending cafes
unveiling the latest culinary inventions.
Emporiums, from bespoke to bargain
And the diminishingly desirable sample sales.
There were three brief days of “free groceries”
People arrived at daybreak.
O, and nightclubs and lounges with velvet ropes
Opened long past my bedtime
This Mercury retrograde, bombs hit beleaguered Iran
Spring flirts with filthy snowbanks.
Downtowners bask in March’s lengthening afternoon.
Patiently, sociably, inexplicably
New Yorkers linger on long and peaceful lines
Ice Age
Incrementally our
Cities are invaded
Except the enemies are American
Instead of foreign invaders
Children must fear their
Empowered neighbors
I never imagined my old age to be
Corrupted by homegrown fascists
Even though Anne Frank is my heritage
Incredible to observe a dictator
Conquering a democracy
Extolling the murder of innocent citizens
I am aware
Courage is required to
Extinguish flames of hatred and fear
Pyramid 1984
Hell is a small smoky club
Packed with urban demons
Is that the Devil sipping a Negroni?
The satyr at the door attempts
To stamp my flesh but I decline
his invisible stigmata.
Once I leave, I won’t return.
They charge admission to Hell
But I’m on the guest list tonight.