~Changes~

Somehow I remember

this street from before

when I wore the clothes

of youth

 the smells of ethnic food

and fresh baked bread

mingling with the laugher

of kids in the street

playing ball or kick the can

while mothers wearing aprons

leaned over flower pots

gossiping and fanning themselves

with paper fans

Where men sat on stoops

to complain and smoke

their pipes, some with

 small buckets of brew

Now this is where

the homeless wandered

in their tried bones

and rotting shoes

snoozing in the shade

between buildings

When did time

run its race

and I did not even notice

until the clothes of age

began wrapping tightly

around me…

Carole~

October 7, 2008