about a city

Carissa Halston

There are plants that bloom between
   the tracks on the 7 line at Queensboro Plaza.

Would-be trees planted by misguided birds
   who are trying to make a home for themselves
      in a place where birds can't live.

Underground, on the walls below Prince Street,
   miniature people pass each other unknowingly.
      Their maker forgot to paint their eyes.

One of them drags a Christmas pine,
   lugging home joviality to string lights upon and

sigh,

"So this is happiness in New York City."