Brady's Brand New Providence

A ride down Smith Street
With someone in his passenger seat
Who looks just like the girl
That broke his heart

A pop song plays on the radio
And it seems to have a brand new depth
Which lets him know
He's gone too far
He's let a girl in much too deep

The girl who looks like the Capital-G Girl but isn't
Sings along with him
While he goes past the mall
And contemplates buying
Elaborate things
That he doesn't need
Like kitchenware
And new jeans
And an umbrella that will cover up to sixteen people
If he needs it to

He sees the State House lit up
And thinks maybe he'll run for office
Make laws from a safe office
Where he'll be sheltered
By assistants
And purpose
And fundraisers in ballrooms
Where he'll promise boys just like him
That girls like her
Will be jailed
And never terrorize
Another hopeless soul

The city looks like Providence
And Brady dreams of leaving it

Going to another brand new Providence
Where he could have his good stuff
Without his bad stuff

Where he could have his East Side
And his Thayer Street tea
And his Wickenden sushi
And his tacky tourist-y Waterfire
And his fucking memories
Removed from her tentacles
That fucking heart-eating octopus
That stole his heart and his city
And what his city means to him

Moving was something
That would have to be done
Because there could be no moving
Within

Not within the three blocks
That comprise Brady's Providence

The lower-case girl next to him
Says 'Brady, drive'
And he drives

He drives right into a new downtown
To a loft in a building
He's never seen

With a fresh sidewalk
And people with adorable dogs
And a block party

He gets out of his car
And he's welcomed
Like a returning soldier

The lower-case girl says--

'Brady, there is a lot of life to be had in three small blocks'

And she is right

So Brady begins a new life
In an old place

And when it's time for him
To go back and get his things
He will

But in the meantime
He'll meet his new neighbors
And promote his lower-case girl
To an upper-case Fantasy

He'll put on new jeans
Make toast in his new toaster
And bring his umbrella
Just in case
He meets sixteen new friends

Then he'll go out
And see his brand new old city

As if he's seeing it
For the very first time