nyc

there are no hippies in new york city

no dirt white knits over hemp starred skirts

and proud exposed bellies

no, not in the manner of bikinis burning on beaches

or sleek shirts cut just short of taut belly buttons;

i went to new york city in december

hippie bellies are exposed in that they are

shown

shown down shown off never ever shown up

they are round and proud and uncaring

hippie bellies don’t know that they exist

hippie bellies are attached to angled minds preoccupied by

matching patterns with patterns

with cashew cheese and non-profit thrift stores

and beads and the long

line of injustices hoarded by the world

hippie bellies know that they don’t owe no one

an explanation

hippie bellies will fight you and beat you

hippie bellies guide moral compasses sharper than the high

heels that hippie feet don’t wear and hippie arms will fight you

and beat you if said compass points them so but alas

there are no hippies in new york city

there are no bellies

in new york city

only stomachs, only abs and ribs and the most occasional tummy

only sleek, vintage tops from shein,

puffy jackets for small waists and h&m girls

only pantsuits, small chunky hoops, short black boots

i wish for more hippies in new york city; they know how to bring

the sunshine and i hope that one day, I can be a hippie in new york

city too