Beautifully written by my friend, Charlie Giardino
Posted: May 14, 2012 Filed under: East Harlem, Italian East Harlem, Pleasant Avenue | Tags: charlie gee, charlie giardino, East Harlem, Italian Harlem, Pleasant Avenue 2 CommentsS
Summer night
doo wop music
echoes from the jukebox
it’s out on the street
it’s wire snakes
through the window
inside the club to the plug
by the pool table
everybody’s outside
on Pleasant Avenue
my home town
my little village
Pleasant Avenue
ain’t that a name?
most people don’t know it exists
and that’s fine with us
the johnny pumps are open
girls are jumping rope
some kids are playing stoopball
others eating Italian Ices
I’m on 119th street
waiting for you to come out
when I spot you a half block away
my heart skips a beat
and I deliberately act cool
chatting up a buddy
while looking over his shoulder
as you draw near
damn, you look pretty
white pedal pushers
striped top and some cute shoes
ain’t you a sight to see?
‘I only have eyes for you’
is playing now
and ain’t that the truth?
as you greet me with a kiss
‘My love must be a kind of blind love
I can’t see anyone but you.
Are the stars out tonight?
I don’t know if it’s cloudy or bright
I only have eyes for you, dear’
and you take my hand
and we walk down to the park
to sit and stare at each other
on a park bench
beneath the amber glow
of the street lights
life is wonderful
and love is grand
‘I don’t know if we’re in a garden,
or on a crowded avenue.
You are here, so am I
maybe millions of people go by,
but they all disappear from view.
and I only have eyes for you’
ain’t that the truth?
and wasn’t that a night?
charlie gee 5/14/12
Italian Harlem 
I love this poem. It could’ve been anywhere, even Inwood.
LikeLike
It could’ve been a couple of Irish kids in Kingsbridge one Summer night, up on the roof watching the sun set behind Marble Hill and thinking about a million tomorrows. Thanks.
LikeLike