Charlotte Gets New Eyes

Charlotte
on a Monday morning,
leaves her apartment
to walk in the rain
past the cathedral
She thinks of how she used
to sit & stare at the moon sometimes
in the cloistered gardens
off Amsterdam and 112th street,
who she was
when you
loved her once
a long time ago

Lately
it seems
Charlotte's
been seeing things
all the time
She says she's got new eyes
There's a blue balloon
Trapped in a tree
Charlotte has seen it
She's crossing the street
Her umbrella has blown inside out
She's holding on with both hands
She's thinking about
how the cars go by so fast
Cars go by so fast
So fast
Like who she was
when you
loved her once,
a long time ago