Loss
Loss—particularly the shock of a sudden, expected death—is a major theme, in spite of the fact that loss does not appear in this poem until the end. Holiday's death is the poem's occasion, and the speaker's reaction to this news evokes a deep sense of something gone, but not forgotten. But, even in the wake of loss, life goes on: New York City doesn't stop to remember Holiday, even if the papers have plastered her face upon the front pages. She is subsumed within the endless tide of exchange in the city, as a headline, a black-and-white image.
Memory
The speaker's recollection of witnessing Holiday perform at the 5 Spot brings the poem to its peak: the final stanza, when the speaker returns to this moment, is both memory and memorial. He remembers Holiday as she was prior to her death, and preserves the beauty of her voice from the perspective of someone who experienced her performance first-hand. He doesn't remember Holiday as someone whose body bore the toll of addiction: he remembers her for her talent, for the power she held over her audience. In this way, he creates a portrait of Holiday that is unadorned by gossip or sensation, and focuses purely on her art.
Modern Life
The hustle and bustle of New York characterizes the tone, voice, and atmosphere of the poem. The speaker's frequent use of the word "and" to link his actions and thoughts in a near-continuous stream of consciousness corresponds to a way of living without rest or reprieve, always on the go to the next outing, and always purchasing something for somebody else. The notice of Holiday's death on the headline touches upon the sensationalized elements of modern life. Popular tragedy becomes major news, and one day's story will be overshadowed by tomorrow's.
