Xiaobai Yulan

New York Subway/ XXX Shop/ Man Sleeping in Ground

US-1 New York, the Subway

 

I am in the wrong way

the first night in the subway

under  much

Masculine  stare

 

In Beijing, the subway is clean and bright but here

I feel like crawling

in the tunnels dug by moles

 

The coin phone remains the only

hope for rescue

I lost several quarters

before my trembling fingers

reached the cheap hotel

 

West 4. an accidental  luck

sends me on my way

to a restful night

 

 

US-2 XXX

 

Browsing in an XXX shop

Bright opposite the bus terminal

I savor the openness

of America

Outside,  men with big frame

Stand in silence

Casting nonchalant eye

On passers-by

 

 

US-3 Man Sleeping on Ground

 

I am no better than he is

who sleeps on the ground

behind the counter

waiting to be driven away

when business starts

 

I am killing my hours

late at night

at the New York bus terminal

sitting at a table

pretending to have eaten

some food

reading a newspaper

picked up from trash can