washington square
park
in the early birth of
the summer
americans love the sun so much
yet none of them are sitting in it
we try to find something in the shade but it is hard
with all of the other sun gods and goddesses
fanning themselves off beneath the thick trees
and there is music, of course
swing dancing and someone playing gershwin on piano
the young are tanning themselves
all healthy bodies and miserable downturned faces
i feel just like henry james
and you dear, you can be edith wharton
we’ll sit here escaping slivers of sun
eating halal food and drinking water
as two girls in short shorts crowd our space
to try on high heels, plucking their ukuleles
mabybe we can find out what it is
the people love so much about these ninety days
we’ll watch three legged dogs shit in flower beds
and little brats on scooters take down senior citizens
while their parents laugh and take photos of the arch
we’ll take the propaganda fliers
from the two ladies in rainbow-colored umbrella hats
if they offer them
shake our heads at the ubiquitous joggers
sweating away their souls in this heat\
break the rules and toss falafel and rice to the pigeons
because what do rules mean
in the early birth of the summer?
as the ice cream and coca-cola people stroll by
in american colors and baseball caps
with their dumbs smiles and confidence
patriots making the most of their weekend
letting us all feel like winners
once again this year.
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