Washington Square Park
on a fall afternoon
cool breeze blowing
‘neath a water blue sky.
Kids on a concrete hill
riding skateboard bikes
frolic on the jungle gym
laughing children's shrieks.
Young girl on a park bench
in a blue-jeaned sneakered pose
scribbles in a notebook
and dreams some faraway thought.
Black youth by the garbage can
rusty red bucket dented
mumbles to the pa**ersby
disjointed joints for sale.
White youth tossing pigskin
in his stylish sports fatigues
tanned and bronzed like summer
muscles rippling on the green.
The middle-aged Joes play chess
black/white castles on the block
they send their dreams to battle
on ordered squares inert.
Old men sit in patience
cross their legs and heave a sigh
watching leaves go tumbling past them
like a memory
drifting…