A Manhattan Moment

1972
I am standing on the sidewalk between West 87th street and 88th street
I am on the corner talking to a man in a wheel chair.
I know this man
He is wearing a bright blue shirt,
silk, obviously expensive
surrounded by people all seeming to want to be with him,
to be
The One

He is holding court
I suddenly become the center of his attention
I am standing with my baby in his carriage next to me
engaged in conversation about nothing
but there is something happening between us
a strong bestial pull
an hypnotic moment fraught with danger

I see this man often
on subway cars
being pushed through one car after another
he is dirty then, pathetic
deliberately so

I feel movement by my side,
my hand suddenly empty.
I turn to look at my baby
He is gone
Gone!

I look down the street
He is being pushed away from me
I scream
I am screaming without knowing anything but fear
terror "My baby
that's my baby" I scream running after the man,
the carriage
"My baby"

People are moving to the side as I run
I grab hold of the carriage handle
the man is gone
the world is quiet except for my beating heart

I keep walking with my baby,
I turn the corner on West 87th street
It's okay I keep telling myself,
It's okay
nothing happened
It's okay

We cross West End Ave. at 87th street
and stop in front of 565
I pause for a moment
long enough for the doorman to open the door

We are in the lobby
my baby and me
we are safe........

for the moment

Linda Zises
WBAI RAdio