Brooklyn in Hindsight

A fever was in the air

Every man and woman … falling victim to its sparkle and glamour

Moonlight and lanterns lit the streets

An aroma of love and self-discovery massaged the nostrils

Tickled the taste buds

An unrelenting hunger in a time unlike any other

Where lights illuminated the contours of bodies

As they danced the nights away

Streets were bathed in an electric gold

Bodies lined the sidewalk

Taken in a drunken stupor of elation from the festivities

Those still briefly conscious

In the midst of all the vigor

Flooded the streets with shouts of joy and happiness

As musical concoctions filled the night with intensity

Mellow madness crowded the alleys and late night pubs

People sat sipping cappuccinos

Nibbling pastries

Tables adorned with crystal vases grasping a single daffodil

The local musician placed his lips about the saxophone and blew a solemn note

His hat hanging delicately over his left eye

Clothes rumpled

Other eye unconcerned

Playing on a stage alone as onlookers marinated in a sea of endless jazz

Outside the nightclub

Single bodies crowded the thin doorway

Irritated somewhat by the wait to enter

Shiny, sweaty skin

Rubbed flesh against flesh

Pushing when the waiter revealed that two lovers had left for the evening

A table was now free

When the cheap, wooden doors were abruptly closed

Would-be customers continued down the crowded, lit streets searching for another place

To rest their tired, broken, dance-ridden feet

Others simply staggered into the hustle of the streets once more

Unchanged by the availability of space in the nearby greasy spoon

Simply cruising the streets searching for an empty stoop

An unoccupied portion of sidewalk

Seduced by joy

Made numb by reality