 |
You’ll Get Nowhere
In the whole world only one restaurant
Was patronized by both Leon Trotsky
And Bela Bartok. That would be the
Old 57th Street Automat in Manhattan.
Go into any restaurant today and ask
Whether Leon Trotsky ever ate there.
You'll get nowhere. Same with Bartok.
You'll get nowhere. They'll shoot you
A look of stupifaction. Apropos of which,
Years ago I took the subway down to a
Greek coffee shop on West 86th Street
Where I'd heard Isaac Singer used to
Order a boiled potato. I got nowhere.
I asked if Bartok ate there. Who? What?
Superannuated Man
Car door closing outside? Is that what I hear?
Sounds kind of baleful but I’ve nothing to fear
With my Model 27 and a glass of cold beer.
Semi-automatic pistols don’t appeal to me.
They may shoot or not, you just wait and see,
So I keep my revolver here on my knee.
Is death outside? If she comes in the door
I’ll shoot myself in front of that old whore
And not worry about nothing at all anymore.
I’m a superannuated man. I always liked guns.
Beer too. I monkeyed around in mutual funds
For years and years and now I’m finally done.