New York Serenade Poem by Barry Blander

Abandoned babes hangin' out in doorways
Daddy's swiggin' beer, hittin' balls
Momma's working Chinese laundry
Wringin' city out of shirt and pants
Sister's on the street
Peddlin' her red flower
Brother's on the corner
On the corner doin' his sweet, mean dance

Manuela, she got a date
With the man when the moon go down
Star-filled Manuela got a date
With the man when her last hungry bird
Has flown home; she gonna walk riverside
Searchin' black water for reflection
Of pretty white horse

Street walkin', fast talkin'
Son of street walkin', fast talkin'
Love-hawkin' sugar man
Heels clickin', wrists snappin'
Congas singin' of deals swingin'
Feet-tapping dude on the corner
Yea, you are the man
All them lovely ladies been keepin' eye on
They got your number
And you got the time to steal
Their precious time away

All the cats screamin'
For night to come
Pretty boy wakin', needle washin' out
Bitter taste of day
Yea, you are one of the last heroes
With money to burn
Fires of dark hard lovin'
In the soft Spanish night

Manuela, she got a date
With the man when the moon go down
Star-filled Manuela got a date
With the man when her last hungry bird
Has flown home

She meet the man
Hands touch, exchange goods
Manuela go down riverside
Ride her pretty white horse
Comin' in for the kill
Take her home to pretty boy
He take his fill and kissin'
They fall asleep just like

Abandoned babes hangin' out in doorways
Daddy's swiggin' beer, hittin' balls
Momma's workin' Chinese laundry
Wringin' city out of shirt and pants
Sister's on the street
Peddlin' her red flower
Brother's on the corner
On the corner
Doin' his sweet, mean dance.