we who loved America

We Who Loved America (first part)

It was a humid August evening in 1958
when the cargo ship
I served as a galley helper docked in NEW York
I was mesmerized by the tall buildings
the tallest building at home had four floors
in the evening, the chief steward took us to the fabled
Radio Music Hall, which showed movies
music and dancing girls who decorously danced,
alas, my mind was, the street 
I had seen Alan Ladd standing on the pavement
talking to Jack Dempsey, I was there, witnessing
greatness