in new york

people live vertically

but walk horizontally

there are so many of them

colliding there

that there is anonymity

in numbers

as you walk through the crowds on the street

you hear

“is it normal to have such a screwed up mother?”

“my psychiatrist says I need different medication”

“i am SO angry about it”

“i am really pissed off”

“my diagnosis is ptsd…..”

“if i can bring my counts under 40, my hiv will controllable for life”

in new york

since you know so many people are listening

who you will never meet

you don’t really care

you can say loudly

on the street

what other people whisper

in private

in a corner

that is not in new york