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“Riding the A,” a poem by May Swenson

Riding the A by May SwensonI ridethe “A” trainand feellike a ball-bearing in a roller skate.I have on a grayrain-coat. The hollowof the caris gray.My facea negative in the slatewindow,I sitin a litcorridor that racesthrough a darkone. Strok-ing steel,what a smooth rasp—it feelslike the newest of knivesslicingalonga longblack crusty loaffrom West 4th to 168th.Wheelsand railsin their primecollide,make love in a glideof slicknessand friction.It is an elationI wish to pro-long.The stationis reachedtoo soon. “Riding The A” by May Swenson from Things Taking Place: New and Selected Poems. © Little, Brown, 1978. Reprinted without permission, please don’t sue me.

New favorite (& cheap) place to eat: Hummus Place!

It’s super-cheap for being a sit-in restaurant(we got two hummus meals and split a frozen dessert and paid $22 after the addition of a hefty tip). And only 20 minutes on the 1 train from our house to the 72nd stop! www.hummusplace.com Speaking of the train, on our way back, Pete and I found ourselves the only ones on what appeared to be the only non-air conditioned subway train car. We had the whole (albeit hot) place to ourselves! If you ever find yourself in New York in this position, take advantage of it. Run around. Swing on the bars.Continue readingNew favorite (& cheap) place to eat: Hummus Place!