JohnVincent (Interlude) Lyrics

City Smoke

As read by John Vincent

There is a midland city in the heart off air

Open country, a dirty and wonderful city

Nesting dingily in the fog of its own smoke

The stranger must feel the dirt before he feels

The wonder, for the dirt will be upon him instantly

It will be upon him and within him, since he must breathe it

And he may care for no further proof that wealth is here better loved than cleanliness

But whether he cares or not

The negligently tended streets incessantly press home the point, and

So do the flecked and grimy citizens

At a breeze he must smother in whirlpools of dust, and if he should decline at any time to Inhale the smoke he has The meager alternative of death