12,341. I HEARD THE HARLEQUIN

I HEARD THE HARLEQUIN

These aren't water balloons you're

dropping over Linden you know.

I've seen the Wood Avenue shoppers

go flying with each impact. That

Santa Claus guy was laughing

at the sky.

-

It's not really much of a place;

I stayed there once, in the 1960's,

when there was a hotel in the

center of town : train station,

diners and restaurants; a full

liquor store too.

-

Now it's barber shops, Polish 

food-stores, dollar stores, nail

places, and the usual convenience 

store connivances to get you to

part with your money. The Father

and Son Hot Dog place is long 

gone too. I remember first finding

it, in 1966, and I thought it was

some oddball religious eatery.

-

I saw a dollar store today. The

sign in the window said, 'Everything

99 cents! Less, or More.' Me? I

didn't know whether to laugh or 

cry; more or less. OK, back to the

moment  -  keep flying around, I'll

drop more to the ground.