I carried you up second avenue Looking at couples and sidewalk cafes And lonely men wandering home in the haze I carried you up the way I pictured you sitting on your stoop Spilling your coffee on villanelles And cursing yourself you began to yell How clumsy the things that I do You said I miss your dumb warm body I don't know what that means But I think that it's lovely We bought each other hardback books Inscribed them with ice cream that dripped While we ate But petrified by your writerly looks I simply wrote You said I miss your dumb warm body I don't know what that means But I think that it's lovely That night you drew me oh so close And gave me some grade school innocence Kisses on the kneecap and nose and shoulder You whispered in my ear no words Traced them instead upon my back I have to go away for a while A trip to that side of the track. And so I'll miss your dumb warm body. I carried you up second avenue.