1. Show Biz
Like resolving the tension of the A blues scale with a palpable & acoustically entertaining chord
The hard nature of his sex is corrected in her artistry.
Rhythmically questioning the potential of his sound pulsating vanity pushes the movement of fluidity over
a 12 bar range creatively provoking keys and nods to adjust his disinclinations into her aspirations.
Sound takes over her spine and the timing in the roll of her waist and grace in her step move their
captivated stares stage left.
The applauding crowd presumes her bow, but her exit is not without hesitation
From within his reflection follows her to his dressing room
Where the walls keep secrets and the light bulbs shade truths
Shadows bounce between the two as she rolls low her knee highs
The arch in her back shadows the dying bouquet sitting at the edge of an array of deception
He sighs at the magic in her transformation as each layer of his most natural self is undressed
Removed before red lipstick
His confidence pauses for the only truth the world will accept
The applause quiets his discomfort and the grin that stretches across his face
Confirms their accord and celebrity
She winks at his vain reflection that has frozen time with the reel of images replaying the standing ovation
her performance conjured
Now poised in his stance he blows her a kiss as the both toss their hair aside
Once over their appearance
Warm and prepared he stands to his feet heading for the cold because the show must go on
-DianFrankson RedBrickStories 2015

2. The 42cnd street steel pan man
It’s been one of those days.
You know those days when you wish you could ask Scotty to beam you home.
It’s been one of those days.
The platform I stand on & the uptown platform across from me just might be the most unified spot in the city.
Underground in the belly of this city you can find someone from somewhere everywhere.
It’s been one of those days,
Standing on the 42cnd Street two train platform at 5 in the evening on a Saturday what energy you have left can
become spent by truth of NYC.
It’s been one of those days
To my left there is a woman in a snow white fur coat
In my current state of mind I am imagining the limo that had to drop her to the train station because there is no way
she walked through the snow in those heels and that white fur coat.
It’s been one of those days and I stand on the downtown two train platform of the 42 street station while the sounds
of the underground distract my altered perception of excess.
It’s been one of those days and the drumsticks trolling the tops of buckets take over my sensibilities.
I did not see the drummer boy before.
He has been only a few feet away all this time and his pulse now commands my attention.
He drums out the music of Alica keys and my head moves to this treat.
It’s been one of those days and as I turn to my left there is a woman in a fur coat.
She tries not to move but the drummer boy has moved her,
she turns to acknowledge him.
I chuckle at her submission and smile at her.
She in turn smiles at me and I turn to him and he winks at us both drumming the music of Alica Keys.
It’s been one of those days,
Standing on the 42cnd Street two train platform at 5 in the evening on a Saturday you can become spent by truth of
NYC.
It’s been one of those days
I put my kids to sit in the benches by the stairs on the downtown two train platform
A little white girl and her mother walk towards us.
The child looked square into my daughter’s eyes and asked for her the seat
My daughter looks at me
I am rolling my eyes when she says “sure” and gives up her seat.
It’s been one of those days and all I see is color.

3. It’s been one of those days and the soundtrack to Whitney Houston’s I want to dance with somebody starts to play
A transitioning woman dressed as Whitney is singing off key into a microphone on the uptown platform.
I look at my daughter now standing next to me.
We both look at my son and the little girl seated next to him who are using their pale palms to cover the laughter.
Soon we are all laughing and singing
I want to dance with somebody
The little girl’s mom turns to me and says “I am sorry”, I wink at her
and say “there is nothing wrong with a little girl who knows how to ask for what she wants” we need more of that.
It’s been one of those days and transitioning Whitney is signing her hit on the uptown two train platform of the 42cnd
street station and there is no gender or race waiting for the train.
It’s been one of those days and I am standing on the downtown two train platform,
I walk to the front of the station because I am trying to get a seat or two
It has been a really long day.
My mind falls on how long it has been and how tiered I am when the three train pulls in and out again.
It’s been one of those days, and standing on the 42cnd Street two train platform at 5 in the evening on a Saturday
you can become spent by truth of NYC.
It’s been a long day when the Steel pan man begins to play the sound of music
Just as I think that’s my favorite song I see the uptown platform start to dance along.
I have never seen anyone dance to that song before,
The steel pan man’s selection turned to NY NY, a Caribbean beat and then just before the train arrived a little Carlos
Santana.
Grandmas, and grandbabies, transit police, businessmen, and homeless people, the entire platform could not help
but dance with the steel pan man.
It’s been one of those days.
You know those days when you wish you could ask Scotty to beam you home.
It’s been one of those days.
The platform I stand on & the uptown platform across from me just might be the most unified spot in the city.
Underground in the belly of this city you can find someone from somewhere everywhere.
It’s been one for those days
Play steel pan man play.
Dian Frankson RedBrickStories 2015