"His (Mike Marcellino) words incite a sense of dreams embodied by the city (New York):"

The Review Review:
Words embody New York dreams

Here's what The Review Review wrote about "Flatbush" and "Alphabet coffeehouse," poetry songs about New York City, written and recorded by Mike Marcellino.

First in poetry is the work of Mike Marcellino: “Alphabet coffeehouse," “Flatbush”, and “Alexander's Strings." The pieces depict different parts of New York City from its jarring traffic to its more calming fountains. His words incite a sense of dreams embodied by the city: “Flew into New York/ on wings of Peter Pan./Flew into New York/ on wings of Babylon./ Jupiter in the right now/ not as bright,/ on this clear an' quiet night” (Marcellino, “Flatbush”).

Here's the link to read the entire review of the BAP Quarterly's New York City issue.  The Review Review website reviews online magazines.


The Review Review

Bosphorus Art Project Quarterly is an online art journal aimed at bringing international artists and writers together. BAP-Q has a theme for each issue and based on the theme, discusses a wide range of topics including, but not limited to, visual arts, literature, theatre, cinema, aesthetics, and social and cultural studies.PAB Quarterly editor in chief is Jennifer Bal.

Here is the link to BAP Quarterly's New York City issue -

BAP Quarterly

To listen to listen to "Flatbush" and "Alphabet Coffeehouse," Mike's New York City songs from BAP Quarterly and other of Mike's poetry songs here's a link to his music site -

Mike Marcellino on ReverbNation

(There is also a music player with Mike's songs at the stop of his blog, "The Point of the Whole Thing.")

Alphabet Coffeehouse, a new song

"It's wonderful! Thank you for telling me about it! It reminds me very much of the East Village and that day."

– Rebecca Turner, New Jersey singer songwriter, after listening to Alphabet Coffeehouse.


Alphabet Coffeehouse

Lyrics and vocal 
by Mike Marcellino

Music by Tomas Texino

Alphabet Coffeehouse,

“Where can it be?”

Wandering streets,

A to Z

the East Side,

New York City

aimlessly,

late afternoon, after a show.

Red, white and blue

chipped, cracked lettered

no name circle concrete park,

bed of violet flowers

in the middle,

back lit

crimson eyed Susan’s

no name circle concrete park.

Alphabet Coffeehouse,

“Where can it be?”

sundown of existence,

A to Z

the East Side,

New York City,

10^th and C.

Only a clue,

whisper,

unknown friend, fellow traveler

searchin’ for the

Alphabet Coffeehouse

9^th and C,

‘round the corner from Banjo Jim’s.

“It’s nothing,” the young man replied,

aimlessly.

“Everything is nothing here,” he said again,

“nothing” about

Alphabet Coffeehouse

“Where can it be?”

A to Z,

red, white and blue

no name circle concrete park,

flag pole,

no colors up.

“Everything is nothing here,”

echoed across

the East Side,

New York City’s

middle a projects

brick, white window sills

houses of thirteen stories.

Jump rope,

rapping voices,

rollerblades,

bikes

black and brown

German Sheppard

walkin'

over a freeway

crooked overpass -

bottom of 10^th,

East River Park.

Softball diamonds,

a dog like Sally with her master,

cars speeding, either way.

Banjo Jim’s open.

“Listen,”

the LA country girl sings,

Rebecca Turner,

no cover.

Alphabet Coffeehouse, copyright by Mike Marcellino 2009

Photos of Banjo Jim's in East Village, New York City from www.banjojims.com and Rebecca Turner, singer songwriter, from her bio on www.rebeccaturner.net

Alphabet coffeehouse, a poem

Alphabet coffeehouse
by mike marcellino


Alphabet Coffeehouse,
“Where can it be?”
Wandering streets,
A to Z
the East Side,
New York City
aimlessly,
late afternoon, after a show.
Red, white and blue
chipped, cracked lettered
no name circle concrete park,
bed of violet flowers
in the middle,
back lit
crimson eyed Susan’s
no name circle concrete park.

Alphabet Coffeehouse,
“Where can it be?”
sundown of existence,
A to Z
the East Side,
New York City,
10th and C.
Only a clue,
whisper,
unknown friend, fellow traveler
searchin’ for the
Alphabet Coffeehouse
9th and C,
‘round the corner from Banjo Jim’s.

“It’s nothing,” the young man replied,
aimlessly.
“Everything is nothing here,” he said again,
“nothing” about
Alphabet Coffeehouse
“Where can it be?”
A to Z,
red, white and blue
no name circle concrete park,
flag pole,
no colors up.

“Everything is nothing here,”
echoed across
the East Side,
New York City’s
middle a projects
brick, white window sills
houses of thirteen stories.

Jump rope,
rapping voices,
rollerblades,
bikes
black and brown
German Sheppard
walkin'
over a freeway
crooked overpass -
bottom of 10th,
East River Park.
Softball diamonds,
a dog like Sally with her master,
cars speeding, either way.

Banjo Jim’s open.
“Listen,”
the LA country girl sings,
Rebecca Turner,
no cover.


Alphabet Coffeehouse, copyright by mike marcellino 2009