I had a date yesterday at Da Capo
across the street my home during this pandemic
with my friend Sheryl who didn’t show up
she thought we were meeting on Friday
but the man at the next table 82 year old Nathaniel
was eager to talk maybe more eager
than Sheryl would be. He said
his mother was a Jewish gypsy from Rumania a family
of criminals and storytellers his father a Christian
died at 25 Nathaniel never knew him his mother
made a lot of money playing cards. She ran
a tea shop on Eldridge Street. Pickle guy
was right next door. Brilliant woman
except for men said Nathaniel who worked at
Ezra Cohen’s on the Lower East Side from the time
he was 17. I made $75 a week on commissions said
Nathaniel. A rich man. Even had an MG.
Ezra’s philosophy was Don’t
Let Them Leave the Store Without Buying.
I was good at that he said. I’ve lived a life
said Nathaniel at the next table.
And it isn’t over yet.
Who knew? A Lower East Side Pickle Day! Marvelous! May there be poetry and pickles for everyone!
I used to buy all my linens at Ezra Cohen, long missed!!