Memories are Made of This

Childhood birthdays unobserved.
Worn Levi’s against cold cement.
Black tar on a foreign playground.
Polite Valentine’s addressed to “girl”.                    

Closed faces in open places.
Shoes from K-mart, two years old.
Scabby knees and bitten nails.
Rides home that never show.

Cigarettes sold with a wink.
Bacardi Rum in generic Coke.
Hollywood Blvd. at midnight.
Ambulance lights for Christmas.

Kindnesses from strangers.
Unexpected smiles with good intent.
Hope felt without sound reason.
Lost butterflies at the zoo.

Written September 15, 2001