15,869. THE DAUGHTER OF GORDON MEANY

THE DAUGHTER OF 

GORDON MEANY

The bus that slid into the pole at 14th street 

by Third Ave., it only made me think of

safety. They say there was a man crushed,

beneath it. Pretty much, not having seen,

one has to take their word on things like

this  -  even if they lie or exaggerate. Here,

there's either a man dead, or not. Ask any

pedestrian what they may have seen; you'll

probably get different answers from each.

-

I used to know a girl who lived right there,

well, close by anyway. Her luscious name was

Valerie  - a word I never ceased repeating.

Don't know why. It reminded me of color, a

sort of purple in my mind. Funny how that

stuff happens. Like Salvador Dali, but more

calm.

-

She moved to Utopia, Kansas. In 1981. When

she told me what she was planning, I said, 'Huh?'

and 'What the Hell? And where is Utopia, Kansas, 

in Kansas? What, you make a left at Eden?'