HANGING IN LIMBO THE FOOT PRINTS
ON THE SIDEWALK OF COLD STONY BROWN
SAILORS ARE HANDING OUT MESSAGES
UNDECIPHERABLE ALL OVER TOWN
COMMISSIONERS OF PEOPLE SEE LETTERS IN CODE
AND STARING AS IF IN A TRANCE
WALKERS OF TIGHTROPES PASS HURRIEDLY BY
DROPPING NAMES IN THE CUFFS OF THEIR PANTS
RESTLESS PEOPLE ARE JINGLING KEYS
BECAUSE THEY ARE READY TO GO
TONIGHT IS THE OPENING SEQUENCE
OF THE SECOND STREET RESTAURANT ROW
"EASY NOW, DON'T LOSE YOUR MIND"
THE MAYOR SAYS, AND HE SMILES
"POCKETS ARE MADE TO BE LINED
IN THAT OLD FASHIONED MAFIA STYLE"
MOANING, BEREAVEMENT IS SURE TO KICK IN
FOR THOSE WHO MAY STILL BELIEVE
FRIEND, IF YOU'RE WORRIED ABOUT PARKING
YOU MAY AS WELL PACK UP AND LEAVE
LEFT ALONE IN THE HALF LIGHT OF STREET LAMPS
TRAFFIC LIGHTS ALL SAY TO GO
(ALMOST) UP-TOWN, CROSSING THE TRAINYARD
OVERSHADOWED BY RESTAURANT ROW
HIDDEN IS THE WORK OF THE FRY COOK
THE BUTCHER SEPARATES MEAT FROM THE HIDE
LADY MADONNA LOOKS DOWN AT PEDESTRIANS
BLANK EYES SAY TO COME ON INSIDE
ABLE TO SEE THROUGH THE NIGHT TIME
A GENTLEMAN STARES AT A DAME
LOVE UNFOLDS WRINKLED UMBRELLAS
SHELTERING FORTUNATE ONES FROM THE RAIN
AND DRESSING IN RAYON ARMANI
IS IT FOR REAL, OR JUST SHOW?
TONIGHT IS THE STANDING OVATION
FOR THE FRY COOK ON RESTAURANT ROW
WINDOW OF FAINT OPPORTUNE
MOMENTS TO NOT BE AFRAID
BIRTHDAY WISHES ARE SENT IN REVENGE
FROM OLD CITY HALL TO THE MAID
ROMANTIC SENTIMENT, WRITTEN ON CARDS
DISCRETELY HIDDEN IN THE POCKET OF YOUR VEST
RELIGION OF, "...MAY I GET LUCKY TONIGHT"
HIGHLIGHTS YOUR OWN LIFELESSNESS
UPON RETURNING HOME, FROM A NIGHT ON THE TOWN
AFTER PASSING THE THIRD STREET RAINBOW
PEAKING MOMENT OF TRUST, WITH A THRUST, AREN'T YOU GLAD
YOU TOOK HER TO RESTAURANT ROW
HOOD WINKED IN HATEFUL AFFECTION
THEIR HONOR'S BEEN STASHED IN A TRUNK
A GO AT THEIR ENEMY'S PIETY
AS IF THEY'VE THE GRACE OF A MONK
FRIGHTFUL, THE THOUGHT OF THE EFFORT
TO LIGHT UP YOUR OWN CIGARETTE
DRAINPIPES ARE TRAMMELED WITH ASHES
AND SOUP, SCRAMBLED, DISGORGED ALPHABET
HIM WHO'S GRAMMATICALLY CHALLENGED
WILL OFTEN FORGET LONG AGO
VIOLIN MUSIC, ON MANDOLIN STRINGS
ONCE PLAYED SWEETLY ON RESTAURANT ROW
WORLD AT THE DOOR OF THE CITY
OPPORTUNITY FILLITH THE CUP
PATIENTS, ONCE VIRTUOUS ASSETS
THE PATIENCE OF DOCTORS IS UP
LOSER IS TEARING UP TICKETS
HE'S MISPLACED HIS ACE IN THE HOLE
READ THE FINE PRINT, FOR YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING
TATTOOED IN THE DEPTHS OF YOUR SOUL
WHISTLES OF RIVERBOAT DANCING
ACROSS WATERY LANDSCAPE THEY BLOW
ENOUGH IS ENOUGH, THE PRIDE OF THE RIVER
HAS BEEN RAMMED BY RESTAURANT ROW
CURTAINS FOR YOU THE PROPRIETOR
WHO'S BEEN QUICKLY PREPARING THE FEAST
OPERA STRAINS FLOAT FROM THE KITCHEN
THE TABLE BEFORE US IS BLESSED BY A PRIEST
CASANOVA IS PROWLING THE SIDEWALK
THE LADIES CAN FEEL REST ASSURED
SELF-CONFIDENCE IS THEIR REMINDER
INFLATED BY ALCOHOL EGO, AND WORDS
GIRLS OF THE EVENING DANCE CIRCLES
AROUND SENATORS POLICEMEN ALL KNOW
GOING OUT FOR A NIGHT WITH CONSTITUENTS
NETWORKING RESTAURANT ROW
AGENTS OF CHANGE DEFINE STYLE
THEY EMBRACE THE MARTINI BAR CREW
"EVERYONE OUT OVER THIRTY"
PLANTING SAPLINGS IS ALL THAT THEY DO
FACTORY MOLDS CASTING PEOPLE
FIRE UP THE ESPRESSO MACHINE
SHOULDERS AND ELBOWS RUB, DEALS GOING DOWN
FILL THE LANTERNS WITH FRESH KEROSENE
CASTLES FOR YOUNG URBAN DREAMERS
A PLACE WHERE MAY ONLY THEY GO
ESCAPING THEIR DESOLATE, THREE WALLED CONTAINERS
GRAVITATING TO RESTAURANT ROW
NEPTUNE AT WAR WITH POSEIDON
THE EIGHTH ORBIT OUT FROM THE SUN
SHOUTING TO GADSDEN FLAG FLYING BATTALIONS
AS YOU'RE TRAVELLING KEEP ONE EYE ON
ELIOT THE THIEF, WHO'S BEEN STEALING
SECRETS TO ONE DAY OVER-TOWER
THEM ALL WITH HIS CHAIN LINK OBSESSION
BEAUTIFICATION, AND PLANTING OF FLOWERS
SEAWORTHY OPPONENTS OF EVERYONE
ACROSS OCEANS OF SALT AS THEY FLOW
MUCH OF THEIR TRIP, TELLING STORIES
OF TECHNO NIGHTCLUBS ON RESTAURANT ROW
YESTERDAY PASSES THE PRESENT
FLOATING BY AS THE RESERVOIR BROKE
"DOING IS BETTER THAN IDLE RESPONSE"
SAY ACHIEVERS...AS IF THEY MUST JOKE
MENTION THE COST OF IMPROVEMENT
TO THE BLIND, AND THE DEAF, AND THE LAME
FACES EXPRESSIONLESS, SEEM TO MOVE ON
JUST HOPE THEY REMEMBER YOUR NAME
GOOD TIMES ARE HAD IN THE GRINDINGS
OF PEPPERMILLS, TURNED BY PEOPLE WHO KNOW
THEM ALL BY THEIR FACES, GOODNIGHT TO YOU ALL
LIGHTS ARE FADING ON RESTAURANT ROW
Copyright 2003, by David L. Heilman
