$I$T $W$A$S $A $Q$U$E$E$R , SULTRY SUMMER , THE SUMMER THEY ELECTROCUTED 001
THE $ROSENBERGS , AND $I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT $I WAS DOING
IN $NEW $YORK . $I'M STUPID ABOUT EXECUTIONS . $THE IDEA OF BEING
ELECTROCUTED MAKES ME SICK , AND THAT'S ALL THERE WAS TO READ
ABOUT IN THE PAPERS -- GOGGLE-EYED HEADLINES STARING UP AT
ME ON EVERY STREET CORNER AND AT THE FUSTY , PEANUT-SMELLING
MOUTH OF EVERY SUBWAY . $IT HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH ME , BUT
$I COULDN'T HELP WONDERING WHAT IT WOULD BE LIKE , BEING
BURNED ALIVE ALL ALONG YOUR NERVES ..
$I THOUGHT IT MUST BE THE WORST THING IN THE WORLD ..
$NEW $YORK WAS BAD ENOUGH . $BY NINE IN THE MORNING THE
FAKE, COUNTRY-WET FRESHNESS THAT SOMEHOW SEEPED IN OVERNIGHT
EVAPORATED LIKE THE TAIL END OF A SWEET DREAM . $MIRAGE-GRAY
AT THE BOTTOM OF THEIR GRANITE CANYONS , THE HOT STREETS
WAVERED IN THE SUN , THE CAR TOPS SIZZLED AND GLITTERED , AND
THE DRY , CINDERY DUST BLEW INTO MY EYES AND DOWN MY THROAT ..
$I KEPT HEARING ABOUT THE $ROSEN . . .
