the late night movie

it's a black and white

movie

at three a.m., it's almost 

morning, but

you stick with it,

because you want to see

what life was like

in the 50's and 60's in

New York City.

the cars, the city streets,

the hats

men wore,

how the women were

natural

and pretty.

it's the music too,

the politeness and

courtesy,

the corner grocer, the boys

playing stick ball

in the street.

the open hydrant

in July.

the fire escapes hanging

down.

neighbors with their

windows open, laundry

strung out

from side to side.

the front porch was where

you learned

nearly everything about life.

the paper boys, the milk man.

the girl

next door. the cop on his

beat, walking by.

maybe none of it was real,

perhaps, but you'd like

to believe that

i wasn't just a movie,