Poetry with an Explanation: "Cut-off shorts and designer shirts"

Cut-off shorts and designer shirts.

Nice apartment, no occupation,

mixed up devotion.

“Do you work?"

“No, but I went to college."

“Do you like the neighborhood?"

“Yeah but it’s not for the weak at heart."

I’m confused. You’re drinking Starbucks.

Shouldn’t you be buying your coffee at the bodega,

nameless sign white cup?

Your wearing a wife-beater and shorts that were once long?

Are you a yuppie or a hipster?

An urban aristocrat or,

a Crown-Heights citizen who is just white?


It’s interesting observing the emergence of yet another sub-type of urban dweller. First you had the stereotypical Park-Slop yuppie: a city dweller from lower-upper-class suburbia. Or the formulaic Bed-Stuy hipster the the child of “middle-class" suburbia with no front lawn. The former loves a wild-night out, without the threat of violence. The latter walks late at night and mingles with the “local” population.


But what about that period of transition? The time when a part of the city begins to gentrify. Changes from a mix of shanties interspersed amongst dozens of monotonous red brick buildings with ominous entrances and perpetual loitering?


The hipster cannot afford the raise in rent nor the dearth of block-parties next-door. The yuppie despises the construction, the noise, the new building, and the gym on the first floor, but not doorman. Or the moment they/you/us realize that your view of the bridge from your breezy balcony is about to be cut off by the gray brick, “luxury apartments” next door. Who fills the void during the transition from hipster to yuppie?

From Crown Heights to Prospect Heights?

Then it occurs to the observer that

the word is out; The neighborhood is changing and

the hipster has moved on -

three subway stops to the left.

The yuppie is waiting for the amenities.

What is this that remains?

Is it possible?

Have the hipster and the yuppie converged?

Is this what is confounding the onlooker?

Starbucks and improvised shorts.

Cut-off shorts and designer shirts.

Yuppie and hipster...

What do you know? It's a "yipster"!