poem of the day 06.23.14

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.