Empire State Building

Been walking forever
lost in the
zig-zag
wondering how tenth avenue became
west third
recognizing parks from movie scenes but
can’t place it together

They say the pimps wait at the stations
for runaway girls who
want to become supermodels
They say the pimps wait at the stations for
big, scared eyes
and take them home and drug their dreams
as for me, I’m
following the needle in the sky

Follow the blood-red used needle in the sky
follow the lit thing
tilt your head up and find that North Star
the tallest building in The City
since the twins came crashing down.

They say the Russian mafia is the worst
They say the Japanese are pretty bad,
too
and if you find yourself in a colorful neighborhood
then follow that needle infected with AIDS
tourists run up it, begging to touch the tip

Follow it until you find the
train station
but keep your eyes drooping so the pimps know you’re a
local.
Keep your supermodel dreams hushed and silent
you can knock on agency doors yourself
and when you’re done
you’ll run to the
used needle in the sky.

Author's Note

I hope you like my style. Comments very welcome.

Reviews

[yinseriv]

I did like the style for an urban setting. Jumps and starts helped me to feel the tension. The analogy to a needle worked well to bring a sense of the city waiting to draw me in. I like grit. Your poem gave me some.

[WhoaitSarah]

Oh I really liked that.

(: