Margo Stokes

One man scuttled sideways like a crab - avoiding all contact

Another trotted along, shoving his way through the crowd

A third bounced on elastic legs, reaching the sky with every step

And groups strutted proudly, not wanting to lose their high-heeled momentum 

Six hailed the same taxi, and fought each other for it

The yellow doors swung open and ate the victor with a squeal of gears

And the remaining five dashed in panicked figure-eights

Trying to find other carnivorous doors 

Street vendors threw a blizzard of white tee shirts to the masses

A flood of glinting nickels were thrown back

One striking a gray and grizzled cheek, slicing it open

Someone started to throw pretzels that were as heavy as rocks 

Goliaths of concrete loomed over the frantic streets

Where pigeons feast like piranhas

In the city where nobody knows and nobody cares