PAD CHALLENGE APRIL 2014 #12 CITY POEM

PAD CHALLENGE APRIL 2014 #12 CITY POEM

CITY WATER

The first time I stood
in the icy bullets
from the spray of an open hydrant

in 90 degree weather

in front of my best friend’s house  

it knocked me on my butt

into the street

Though there were no

well-manicured lawns
with rainbow sprinklers

playing pretty on the grass
a garden hose would provide

enough fun

for a whole summer’s day

until

we were old enough
to catch the bus for a dime
transfer to a train
all by ourselves
and spend a whole day

in the hot sand

and the wonderful freezy cold

of Revere Beach