Your eyes reflected the sparkles of Times Square.
"It's just like the movies."

Your whispered words were carried away
by the hustle and bustle of hundreds of
people just trying to make it

Cigarette smoke curled out from your opened mouth
As you gape at the people and the sights.

You studied the billboards and storefronts
As I studied your sloping nose
And square jaw.

You smiled and my heart sunk.
The city caught you and
wrapped you around its little finger.

Years later I stood in the same place,
Where you fell in love with the city.
Smoke, grime, and garbage still
littered the ground.

City lights ****** you up
and spit you back out.
I found you at a corner
not far from Times Square.

*****, tired and broke
You chuckled and simply told me,
"This is New York, baby.
Everyone loses and wins
But this is where my heart belongs."

I nodded because
Even the things we love most
Hurts us and spits us out.