someone American

Is it but a name?

I met someone American yesterday, on the sidewalk in the rain. I didn’t get her name or number, somehow, but I got her to smile so I count it as a win.

I’ve met hundreds of American girls, they’re never quite the same. It’s like I’ve traveled half the world in one walk through New York City in the rain.

I met someone American not fifteen minutes later, ran into her while occupied with a smile in my mind. She got me on my feet and went along her way, without a word except, escaping from her earbuds, a few tinny strains of Lana del Rey: Come on, baby, let’s ride. We can escape to the great sunshine.

I’ve met fifty-odd sorority girls, they’re different only in name. It’s like they looked out at all the world and thought, no, It’s beautiful how this deep normality settles down over me. Maybe it is, maybe it can be.

I met someone American — which I guess is nothing but a name, like saying someone European like it means anything — can you carve out swathes of the world under one adjective? Is there a place in Americana for everyone I meet on a rainy walk in New York City? Can everyone — be young be dope be proud like an American — ?

Notes

Have you ever seen TikToks where Americans visiting Europe talk about how ‘Europeans do this, Europeans are like this’ as though Europe is a country in and of itself?

They usually get ripped apart in the comments, of course, because it is kind of funny that tourists often seem unable to distinguish between European countries.

However, you could say something similar about when people refer to American culture — yes, the USA is all one country, but it’s so physically widespread that significant cultural differences arise between regions.

It got me thinking about the strange allure of something deemed ‘American’ — for example, search ‘American’ songs on Spotify. american jesus, American Teenager, American Idiot, American Boy, American Money, american wedding.

I think calling something ‘American’ has an appeal specifically because it doesn’t really mean anything at all. It’s a name that defines a culture that doesn’t really exist.

Anyway, that’s sort of what this poem came from. It doesn’t entirely get a handle on the idea, but it’s a start. Stay tuned for more.

Words in italics are song lyrics; the songs referenced are all by Lana del Rey. In order, ‘Cola’, ‘Chemtrails Over The Country Club’, and ‘American’.

Thanks for reading! If you’d like to read more of my poetry, check out my pieces ‘Rob Me Blind’ and ‘Historian’.

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