Poem by Marina Montenegro

Winter Stories

Wintertime in New York City,
the cold seeps through the windows,
people hurry past apartment buildings,
faces looking down to the ground below them.

The cold seeps through the windows,
The office lights on late into the night,
faces looking down to the ground below them
waiting for work to end.

The offices lights on late into the night,
a tired father turning over his business report
waiting for work to end
hurrying to meet his family for dinner.

A tired father turning over his business report,
Weary from his long day,
hurrying to meet his family for dinner,
longing for a warm shower before bed.

Weary from his long day,
homeless and alone in the city,
longing for a warm shower before bed,
praying to survive the cold night.

Homeless and alone in the city
receiving angry glances from passersby
praying to survive the cold night,
in the strange and brightly lit streets.

Receiving glares from passersby,
while stopping to take pictures
in the strange brightly lit streets.
They’ll never believe this back home.

While stopping to take pictures
Central Park under feet of snow, where
– they’ll never believe this back home-
two men are holding hands on a bench.

Central Park under feet of snow, where
the young couple smiles to each other,
two men holding hands on a bench
with a wedding in a week.

The young couple smiles to each other,
rushing down the subway stairs,
with a wedding in a week,
and no money in the bank.

Rushing down the subway stairs,
a degree and job applications complete,
and no money in the bank.
Her debts are only getting higher.

A degree and job applications complete,
hugging the child in her arms.
Her debts are only getting higher.
She’s got no place to stay.

Hugging the child in her arms,
her sign reads: “Anything helps”.
She’s got no place to stay and it’s
Wintertime in New York City.

Marina Montenegro is a gender neutral writer from New York City who has been published by Pif Magazine, Teen Art Out, and Aegis Publishing House.

Glenn Bowie is a published poet, lyricist and photographer from the Boston area. He also owns and operates an elevator company that supplies custom-built elevators for clients from New England to Hollywood. Author of two poetry and photograph collections (Under the Weight of Whispers and Into the Thorns and Honey) on Big Table Publishing, he donates all profits from his books to various charities for the homeless and local animal shelters. Glenn is also the official photographer for the Newton Writing and Publishing Center.