| Show R WN washington picture postcards the visual poetry of the lincoln memorial that warms your spirit and finds a home among your memories modem federal buildings displaying their best architectural manners overlooking slum areas bruised by poverty cherry trees wearing dainty blossoms firing squads of reporters shooting sassy massy queries at public officials during press conferences homeless rumors racing from place to place about town the sun wrapping its beauties around the long stone finger of the washington monument lobbyists hobbyists greeting those who can do them favors as though they meant it the majestic atmosphere of the supreme court edifice where people converse in soft whispers for fear of scratching thi the varnished silence nervous fingers of typewriter keys drumming out details of the governments ern ments business 4 pretty gals who came to the capital for glamour and excitement hemmed in by hard work during the day and surrounded by loneliness at night legislators who crossed swords during public debate ping P longing on ging friendly words in cloakrooms cloakroom the capitol dome whitewashed vh with moonlight the star among the cites sights lights swanky Swank old mansions reeking leeking of history now serving as ordinary boarding houses tor for government emm ent workers nerve centers of war agencies sprinkled prin kled with lights au all night because war is a 24 hour job human peu pell brelling through hotel lobbies the well manicured tussles among social leaders to get important guests the lt library of congress drenched with culture while people in buildings around it are sweating to protect everything it stands for the best dressed men in town hoovers G men they are also the hardest punchers and the straightest shooters uppity embassy parties which I 1 provide a showcase tor for good manners and stale gossip A soldier and a girl holding hands hand s on a park bench while a few blocks way away decisions are made that will affect their whole future tots calmly strolling into schools to learn leam history as it is being made 11 round around them alleged secrets being hushed bushed about from place to place most of own them are re slices of bunk thatis that i start tart from nowhere and end in the same place the exclamation point excitement around war agencies where decisions ire are made that affect americans everywhere today and history tomorrow horn blowing motorists in 16 traffic jams giving your nerves a toothache tails of parked cars growing at every public building movie theaters jukebox joints saloons dance halls div giving ab t the e entertainment sector a w h lff f broadways a dwa YS atmosphere but all gaiety simmers down to a whisper at midnight uppity salons where intellectuals gather to twiddle their opinions and juggle yawns the many thriving palmists pal mists astrologer i s and other members of the crystal ball brig ade de crowds waiting for tables in eat eries waiting in the clogged traffic waiting for interviews waiting tor for rooms while natives of the th capital city wait for the war to end so that they can fit at themselves into normal lives again politicos treated like pleasant thoughts when they had power being ignored like a cigarette butt as soon as they lose their jobs the sign washington the city Bureau ful twilights velvety glow coating the city with its natural cosmetics which most people are re too busy to notice the outs out of tune symphony of sounds that tarts starts in the morning snowballs us into to an n avalanche by midday mid day begins 1 to evaporate as i evening piles shadows to in corners and buries itself in the silence allence of midnight the unbuttoned atmosphere of weekends week ends when humans get a chance to catch their breath trains coughing out oat mobs arriving in town and gobbling those about to leave small patches on the seat of government eager to grab publicity spotlight crazy ands and impress constituents back home empty chairs in the house and senate because legislators do most of their work in committee rooms when not doing things they be doing falls faila with his windblown wind blown coiffure romping along the white house lawn the most famous dog since ra tin tin biggles at private parties still nibbling on public debates between mouth mouthfuls fuls of food the hardest worker in town the president the ithe sour grapevine system of public servants who are always ready to pass the buck or give an excuse instead of trying to rectify their mistakes the many historical sights all over the place making thi the city itself a drama dramatic dramatist tift museum |
