A melodramatic poem about crossing Broadway to get to Barnard and vice versa.

In the space between Columbia and Barnard

lies a gap of infinite proportions

That takes 15 breaths to survive, 

28 tears to cry, and 90 steps to traverse 

all in less than 30 seconds—

Your heart is racing, 

your Joe’s coffee is flying, 

because there is neither 

leisure nor love in these few

square yards of Broadway.

Instead, there is the 

red hourglass glare

of the countdown. 

3…2…1…

That stops you in your tracks, 

As the cars and bicycles 

careen, unyielding to 

the pedestrian, the 

quintessential barnumbia 

student, who simply 

longs for access 

between both 

their worlds. 

Crosswalk via Bwog Archives.