an alley dusk a child walks by talking hearing crickets to left then right hummingbird the hollyhock stays upright autumn mums his trouser cuff torn red mums now he buttons his red sweater red mums the last stepping stone happiness itself a hot plate his upstairs window a postcard 30 years ago also in a room by yrself open all summer this window wont shut this alley’s just my size cricket youre still 5 yrs old downspout’s brought up a blackberry bush turning over old boards here you are it was in an alley it was all junk boyhood Copyright © 2008 John Martone. All rights reserved. |