40 43 74 00nfourth of julynmid afternoonnsun splattered and thirstingnin a 24 karat dive barnoff of bedford aventhe jagged haired starved artistsnbuying up their mixed drinksnand the gawking young intellectualsnwith gossip to sparen(and presentations everywhere)nn40 43 74 00nit's often said that new york citynis the center of the worldnit is a series of islandsndoused taughtnand knit greynwhere the self can seepnwilling and highninto the teeming massnwith gossip to sparenand presentations everywherenneveryone is someone herenthat someone vice versaneconomy is language herenand fluency is kingnn40 43 74 00nit is often said that new york citynis the center of the worldnna worm in the applena sewer to the sea