The streets of New York City are paradise for both treasure-hunters and collectors of odd ideas. I've seen an encyclopedia of random objects in my walks, from panties to piles of books and even an upright piano. I've seen lots of discarded mail and signs, including the touchingly handpainted "I love you Norman, Mom." But I never came across alphabet letters until now. Even funnier to find them lying near a mailbox, as if they'd fallen out or were trying to sneak in. My first thought was of ee cummings (who signed his name, Edward Estlin, in capitals). Then I thought of old apartment door letters that got tossed to the curb when fancier versions moved in. But what I really think happened here is that they escaped from a book.