Rome to Palermo

In seat 23C, a soft, fuzzy teenage girl studies the laminated safety sheet.

Her younger brother in 23B copies her,

succeeding in getting the paper to hang from the folding tray.

Her hair is a lion

or like Samson's must have been,

she's examining her fingers slowly, one at a time.

She wears a checkered blue gingham shirt,

puffed sleeves,

white shorts,

slender silver bracelet,

a storm of sparkling blue eyeshadow.

The plane heaves to life

she leans her head back,

tells her brother

we are going.

Remind Me

When you exit

the subway in summer Manhattan,

clammy and

shrouded in filth,

there's a wave of wet heat

and an explosion

of flesh

wrapped and strapped

acres of skin,

and buildings,

roads,

cabs,

hair,

what were you saying?

Red Hook

In late June

New York

you can smell

the weather

building in the harbor

Headed for the shelterless

island

Unaware

it needs permission

to come ashore