Steve, a quasi-homeless man across the street,
a fashion plate, photographed 17 times
by Bill Cunningham for the New York Times
he has some spectacular outfits, Steve, a man
I’ve known for years, not uncomplicated,
he owns many Issey Miyakes, wears beautiful hats,
still beautiful in spite of his economic situation,
he asked if I could give him some books to sell
he’s selling on the street so I brought down a big
bag and he accepted Nelson Mandela’s Long Walk
to Freedom, rejected Tagore’s Gitanjali (too high
brow and esoteric) also rejected Agatha Christie’s
Murder on the Orient Express (everyone’s already
read it, said Steve.”
Just the thought of Bill Cunningham, and the whole city appears