"The computer has no power below"

Message chosen

for my passing

by woman

on bench

in grey hoodie

floral skirt

with plastic bags

black suitcase

arm propping her up

across from

Jacob K. Javits

Federal Building

sunset of a

spring Monday

*

I take a bench further down

Others pass, receive or reject their koans

I watch the steps of the federal building, listening

No one thinks to pay her

The computer has no power below

*

Call her whatcha like

but I just got done

handing out poems

on the Brooklyn Bridge

so who's ya old bag lady now

*

The urge to romanticize park-shouters is strong

The urge to sympathize with bag-lady balladry, stronger

The urge to believe the computer has no power below

strongest of all