"Girl on Bus - Jerusalem"

A girl got on the bus today
Who reminded me of
My friend Elaine in our youth -
The same sharp Modigliani nose,
The heavy hair piled high,
The serious eyes.
If I mention her worn grey coat,
Her purple scarf, her brown boots -
It's only because I found myself
Taking in everything about her.
I tried to be discreet
But she had a shy awareness
Of being looked at, so I feigned
Interest in the rain-soaked sky,
The familiar bus route going by.
She was tall and could have been
Imposing - but she looked vulnerable -
Her dark eyes wandering from this to that
Having nothing but a black umbrella
In her lap.

When she got up to leave
I suddenly wanted to tell her
She was beautiful, but my words
Couldn't find their moment,
So I sent them flying out the bus,
Not wanting the streets to swallow her -
Not wanting to let her go
Without some kind of blessing.

-Down and Out in Phila.

"Ain't no way
I'm gonna love what is
When what is adds up
To what ain't.
I got my rent to pay
And on top of that
They're tearing down
The project in a month -
So I could be without a roof.
I ain't even got a decent suit
For the job search -
And I'm twenty-six, man! -
Give me a break -
Sure I believe - I believe
But some folks got dealt
A hard hand - a hard hand.

I'm not complaining -
Just laying my cards on the table.
You say the world's gonna be
A beautiful place - no more hunger -
No more war - count me in, man,
Count me in - but I ain't seen it yet.
It's like saying I shouldn't sing the blues
If the Phillies lose the world series
Because good things are on the way -
If they lose, I got a cold sky, a cold sky
Over my head for weeks -
But count me in, man -
I ain't complaining - just
Telling it like it is."