Classic Poem

Washington Square Park
on a fall afternoon
cool breeze blowing
‘neath a water blue sky.

Kids on a concrete hill
riding skateboard bikes
frolic on the jungle gym
laughing children’s shrieks.

Young girl on a park bench
in a blue-jeaned sneakered pose
scribbles in a notebook
and dreams some faraway thought.

Black youth by the garbage can
rusty red bucket dented
mumbles to the passersby
disjointed joints for sale.

White youth tossing pigskin
in his stylish sports fatigues
tanned and bronzed like summer
muscles rippling on the green.

The middle-aged Joes play chess
black/white castles on the block
they send their dreams to battle
on ordered squares inert.

Old men sit in patience
cross their legs and heave a sigh
watching leaves go tumbling past them
like a memory

drifting…


(Previously published in Ixion, Winter 2000, Issue 9)