for rent

Lemuel, Trenton, baby Makai, and their family lived right down our street.  It took about 6 months for their sweet, protective mother to allow them to freely play in our yard and rooms.  They had quickly become a part of our beloved crew; Lemuel even dressed up like a pimp (literally) for Halloween which made me laugh...a lot.  Then, without warning, furniture was in the front yard, discarded from an apartment that is need of new occupants.  It was so quick, and such a common aspect of inner city instability.  This specific incident was a trigger for my hidden, welling emotions.

November 19, 2007

For Rent

 

You Bulldozer of time

You Billow of clouds

Turn your Blind eye

And take mine as well

As you hurtle

Over lives of children; lovers families

Displaced

Exchanged

 

Sitting on steps I wait for storms

But I have not nailed my shoes to this place:

I have made no promise to storm or step.

 

If love is a battlefield

Recycle our guns

Remove planks from our already blind eye

Turn our smutty tear-stained cheek

Tape crowns of flowers round bombs and camouflage

All fear and doubt and risk and laughter

Give, instead, imaginations to create and empower

 

The fly on the wall watches the elephant in the room

But there is no chair to sit table to eat bed to sleep