2.24.2009

VOICES


I was a boy when I asked my mother about people talking when no one was around. Park benches, sidewalks in San Francisco, heads down, busy talking.
They’re not well, she said.
Things are sticking in their ears now.
‘Yogurt’s on sale, ten for seven dollars.’
Looking at pieces of paper, talking loud in front of the canned beans.
‘Barbecue or ranch?’
Paying money to stick things in their ears.
‘Chicken or fish?'
'How’s Kenny doing?'
'Where are you?'
'What are you doing?'
Pound weights and pump machines at the gym.
'What are you doing? Overnight it? Be there tomorrow.'
When I was a boy, people talking with no one around scared me.
I think I will go across the street and talk with Raoul who is raking leaves in front of his house.
He’s wearing a NY Yankees t-shirt and he shakes my hand.

2.17.2009

FOUR WOMEN

A woman in a big blue smock on her phone blonde hair short,
waves and starts across.
A woman in a fuchsia blouse from the other direction.
She stops. Blue smock and blonde hair short, stops
They’re in the middle of the crosswalk
They smile
They embrace
They chat
The light is red.

Two women in black, black, black, black shirts hair, pants, all black,
They wave.
They walk.
They come to the woman in fuchsia.
They smile.
They hug. They all hug.
Me Too, Me Too,
They keep walking. The woman in fuchsia to the left.
Black, black, black to the right.
The light is red. I sit in the car.
Me, Too, Me Too.
I think about it.
The light is green.

AROUND THE PARK

I walked around the park today,
Near a place I used to work.
I walked on grass, softball fields,
Boys and girls kicking soccer balls,
On grass, on cinder path, men and dogs,
Cocker Spaniel dogs and larger dogs.
Earphones all plugged in.

Softball fields were smooth like someone cared
Near a place I used to work.
The fields were scraped clean and even,
Little footprints first to third,
Ready for action,
With lumpy tufted grass.

Woman walking in green scrubs,
Large man to small boy, ‘What are you doing?
‘Small boy stuff’,
Woman running, pounding her best,
Two men in their language,
Clouds get grey in late afternoon
While people fight theirs.

Everyone I needed to see,
Women,
Men,
Young,
Old,
Animals and cars going
In, out
All there,
Near a place I used to work.
I worked today.
Someday,
I can say.