𝗘𝘅𝗼𝘀𝗸𝗲𝗹𝗲𝘁𝗼𝗻 𝗧𝗼𝘄𝗻

𝘣𝘺 𝘙𝘢𝘭𝘱𝘩 𝘎𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘰 𝘑𝘳.

𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘢𝘯 𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘣𝘺 𝘑𝘰𝘦 𝘚𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘤𝘵𝘻

If I were an alien and had just landed here,

had had no human contact,

held no human fear.

Would I experience the hollow quick dread,

coming on the open cold framework

of Flushing Meadows’ World’s Fair dregs?

Would I walk on my way,

to out and beyond.

over L.I.E. concrete and Calvary’s graveyard play?

“Towards the sea”, “towards the sea”,

I’d spit with forked tongue.

All soon to be at Coney Island’s wooden fence rungs.

And I’d see that great exoskeleton—Cyclone his name says—

Lost mayhem and danger,

all wind-whipped and dead.

And I’d think what a wonder, such marvels abound.

come all these skeletons,

to one small seaside town.

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Ralph Greco, Jr. is a professional writer and musician living in the wilds of suburban NJ on the east coast of the United States. Ralph works in both the mainstream and the adult space and his essays, poetry, fiction, interviews, reviews, erotica and children’s stories have appeared in nine countries. Ralph has had his one-act plays produced across the U.S., co-hosts the Licking Non-Vanilla podcast, and is an ASCAP licensed songwriter (Ralph’s music can be found at the cleverly named, www.ralphgrecomusic.com). Ralph can be reached by writing ralphiedawriter@gmail.com

Joe Swarctz is a graduate of the Joe Kubert School in Dover, N.J. He is a professional illustrator and animator who, over the last four decades, has worked for animation studios, corporations and on private commission. Joe’s most recent project is the Echo City Capers children’s book series, of which Joe is creator and illustrator. Joe can be reached by writing josephswarctz@gmail.com