Fashion in the 70's

Like, everyone wants to look black

in New York these days.

Faces with black lenses, black

frames around the eyes,

faces framed in black

beards. Afros on all the blacks-

beautiful. But like,

everyone looks puff-headed.

Slouching along in black

leather, fake fur, sleazy body-

shirts, floppy pants, wearing black

boots with thick heels. Bootblacks

have disappeared. Good-but like,

everyone wants to look hoody.

Blacks used to want to look

white. And whites used to want

to be pink. That's pig now.

Sharp, neat, crewcut, cleancut,

blonds preferred is out. O.K., but

whites, the women especially,

if they don't want to look black,

| want to look dead. Like,

morticians make them up,

in the Ugly Parlors.

Blacks are loose walkers,

relaxed, laughing. For whites

it's hip to look uptight, scowl,

be grimy, wear scary, puffed-out hair.

Crowds of square-toed black

boots, heavy heels crossing the Walk-

Don't-Walk streets. Like, everyone

wants to look ugly in New York

these days. Like, ugly is beautiful.