Avoid New York

the sign said, 

in bold

white blinking letters 

above the

Jersey turnpike,

Avoid New York.

it was during the transit

strike,

but we pressed on

in her beat

up blue Toyota,

smoke pouring out

of the rusted

exhaust.

forward i said,

hit it,

and we did,

straight to Katz's deli

for nourishment.

an enormous deli

pickle and

a fat hot bed 

of pastrami on rye.