Alan L. Winters

XANADU DOWNTOWN

Hot summer evening
Late in July
Steamy nights and neon lights
With the whore girls standin’ by.
Satin and silver and cheap perfume
And the horn man on the corner
Plays for coin a solo tune.
A nickel buys some time
Or a dime for feelin’ fine
Just meet me ‘bove the bar
Upstairs in 209.
Through the smoky haze,
Where the jazz band’s getting’ down,
Old and tired men
Listenin’ to the mellow sound.
And over in the corner
Just in back the band
Sits the couple lives on Bleeker Street
Holdin’ hand in hand.
And there behind the closed door
Where a password gets ya by
Is the table for the crap game
Where the big boys play and stakes are high.
And the poppas in the doorways
Sluggin’ down their wine
While their sons hide in the alleyways
Shootin’ up a line.
Yea, there’s somethin’ here for everyone.
Just come on down to town and roam.
And forget about your troubles
In your instant pleasure dome.