America

i have arrived back in america.
i’ve not eaten a burger yet.
i’ve only had bad airplane food today…
and three stroopwaffels on the platform waiting for the A train.
i had my headphones on
playing “You Forgot It In People”
kinda hoping that it would protect me from being here.
i must admit
there’s a bit of anger
– in london i had to check a bag because of “security”
— i really believe that the government is just trying to make people angry and confused
what is “safter” about having less carry on luggage?
of course
it didn’t come through
… the guy in the baggage area didn’t look surprised
mumbling “we have over 200 bags waiting to come here”
maybe i’ll see it in two days or so
maybe.
they’ll ship it here. to the house.
if i’m in all day
i may be lucky enough to get it.
i’m here.
i’m at Nayland’s house.
i took the Airtrain to the A train to Nostrand
got on the 44 bus
and looked at Black America
all the colours
… and our sidewalks really are dirtier here than anywhere i’ve been in the last 6 months…
i thought london was filthy
wow, New York..
but i love New York
and i’m very happy to see the diryness
the old trains
the abandoned buildings
the guys with their lower lips pushed out
the women with their hair done tall
staring at me.
my Passport Controller guy took at look at the list of countries i’ve been in
and his eyes light up; he kinda sighed
“you’ve been to all these countries, eh?”
— yeah, i’ve been gone for about 6 months…
“i wish i could do that… but i only got 2 weeks off”
— thanks for doing the work you do
i walked past Nayland’s neighbourhood corn
i walked up his very stripped steps
into his rearranged house
where Leighi was sleeping under the covers
in fact
INSIDE the duvet cover
she was befuddled and too excited to figure out how to get out
i helped her and we romped around for a while
… then when she saw me moving through the house
— putting stuff in the fridge
arranging dirty clothes
and what clean ones i wear after my shower
she seemed scared and confused
stood frozen in the middle of the floor
i hope i don’t have that affect on her master
but here i am.
no mobile phone
so i’ll see if i can get that sorted out today
and a few other errands
— a friend who i already have a date to see
talk with about his summer
then a massage client at 6
then i’ll come back here to see Nayland (hello Nayland)
and crash from my long journey
here i am in NYC
welcome home, everbody