WEST FOURTH STREET STATION

When I met you at the West Fourth Station
I had such high hopes
Maybe we could talk it out
And again be close

Though it is cold, shall we go walking
Let's walk toward the sea
But we stopped at the Lower East Side Tenement Museum
To admire the misery

And you looked as good as always
Studiously reading a placard
And you looked as good as always
Puzzling out the past

Then we walked down to the ferry
And we bought a ticket
And we viewed the Statue of Liberty
And our feelings were mixed

Then we went onto Ellis Island
And we each walked on our own
We were strangers to each other
But our ancestors were home

And you looked as good as always
Locked in yourself, the other
And you looked as good as always
Flesh of my flesh, the same

Then we went back into the city
We went to the Daisy Cafe
And we talked, but we both got angry
Like we always do these days

And you looked as good as always
Even stressed out and unhappy
And you looked as good as always
The standard by which I judge

Then we stood and we checked on the weather
I put on my gloves and vest
I guess the visit was a failure
I guess I'm going back out West

Then we walked on the frozen tundra
No, it was just the streets of this town
We said "Bye" at the West Fourth Station
And you went back underground