she worked the blocks between somewhat and very

(& why did you suspect that of her?)

because every story has a story 

                                            Just the facts ma’am

and bottled in bond    whatever that means.

*

she had the soft face of a savage     Gun shots

down the block East 3^rd   someone shooting

from the jazz bar’s roof at someone in the

                                            street shooting back.

Closing time   East Village.

*

Joey’s advice?     Pretend not to care

till you don’t.  There was one all-night diner

where when the weather sucked they all

                                           flocked as witnesses

and suspects combined.     She wouldn’t be there.