Intimations in the mist
Did an infant cry out for his mother
in a hospital on Cropsey Avenue
in Brooklyn near Nelly Bly pier did this happen
does anyone know is there anyone to ask
And did his mother comfort him and did his crying cease
did he learn to walk in the park on Cropsey Avenue
did he live on Bay 34th Street and were there empty lots and
many boys playing games and chalk and marbles and ice cream
Good Humor and laughter and fears avoiding cracks
on the way to Public School 101 and calling to Goodie
outside his kitchen window long talks till sunset
does anyone know is there anyone to ask
Did Mendy and Goodie wave to Leah Youlus
on the last day of Hebrew School
and was there a fire in the stables on Stillwell Avenue
did a ragman cry out I buy old clothes
Did Dennis Lupo beat up the guy who threatened us
cigarette butt between ear and skull
did Norman drag a box of logs along
the defunct trolley tracks across the steaming creek
Along Stillwell Avenue to Mermaid to Neptune to Surf
in the shadow of the Parachute and Wonder
Wheel to dump them under the boardwalk
where oiled bodies stretched under glinting lines of light
And did the Tornado and Bobsled and Cyclone roar
over cascade of bumper cars and sideshow barkers
and ponies and batting cages and Skee-Balls
and did we stare at the sun setting beneath line of horizon
And did a ragman searching for silver and gold rings
on the sands of Coney searching searching
sun setting did he bend and touch a streak of light
and did he hear mermaids call out beyond the pier
Is there anyone here does anyone know
is there anyone to ask