As You Like It

Walking down the street
fast, in a hurry, panting, sweating
Trying to be on time with their time
Got to the end of the block
and the street was humming
Nine a.m. people checking their clocks
the air smelling of something
Dirty, rotten, spoiling
Hurry, wary of the time
Waiting in line
for my NY Times and my coffee
behind the sweaty guy wearing running shorts
fighting with the newstand guy about Newports
These people, the New York City sort
getting on my last nerve