248th and Broadway by Devon McFadden

Three friends

Walking up the street

Past diners

Up hill after hill

My legs are killing me.

No one speaks

We just walk

Past restaurants

And a screaming baby

Girl 1 lights a cigarette

And I wonder

Is she happy?

A man yells

Want to get high?

But we walk by

No one even looks up

Girl 2 trips on a step

And I wonder

Is she happy?

On the subway

We squeeze ourselves in

And a man screams

About humans

And machines

But no one even looks up

He yells at me

They’re going to get you!

And I wonder

Is he happy?

We get off

And sit in a bar

Full of people

Looking for something

They’re not gonna find.

Conversations overlapping

But no eye contact

Millions of people

And no one connects

8 million people

But no one touches

A barrier between

You and everyone

And I wonder

Are any of these people happy?

A drunk kid

Pukes on the stairs

And some people on the corner

Laugh

Drunk kid

Just sits on the pavement

And I wonder

Is he happy?

Three friends.

Return to their boroughs

Half-hearted goodbyes

With false promises

About fake plans

That no one will keep

In the cab

The lady on the radio

Talks about dreams

And the cab driver

Talks about dreams

Where he flies

But it’s never good enough

Cause his arms get tired

Cab driver says sweet dreams

As I close the door

And I wonder

Is he happy?

And I crawl into bed

My whole body sore

And I can’t sleep

Cause it’s too bright

And sirens are blaring

And I lay there and wonder

Am I happy?

And I am.

I’m in the greatest city in the world.