Daver Austin Poet Free verse

Old Time Neighborhood

OLD TIME NEIGHBORHOOD  (1934)

Reborn a wrinkled old child
Inhaling the smell of budget
Walking those cracked    skated-on sidewalks
Old trees    with grainy    knothole eyes
    standing   arm-wrapping round    thick   so strong
Noisy kids    uncaring – knee-patched    barefoot            Noisy kids    carried on a listened-for 
breeze
A scrawny let-out-of-doors cat    darts    dares to         
    cross the one-way street
Lower middle class?
Yes
But    respectfully    litter-clean!
No liquor bottles in the gutter - no wretched    used    
    dried-putrid condoms
A Victrola whales from an apartment house window
“I’m confessin’” (that I love you)
And    a drunk stumbles home at 8:00 in the morning
Houses with large    long porches meant to be
    sat upon    at sundown     on hot days
And
Oh, yes!
There are tears
“Road of life”
She identifies

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James Foulk April 14, 2011 at 11:28 AM yes i remember those beautiful days of old, this was a most beautiful and tender poem. thank you for your comment on Fort Sumter.

Carolyn Devonshire April 14, 2011 at 9:05 AM I was born in the city where the "Old Time Neighborhood" atmosphere you describe so well here existed. People were poor, but kept their homes and streets clean. We spend many hours watching sundown from the porch. Love the way you describe the baby as "Inhaling the smell of the budget." People have more wealth and "things" now, but seem to appreciate them less. Awesome poem, Daver! Love, Carolyn

Linda-Marie Sweetheart April 14, 2011 at 7:31 AM Sounds like a very special time in time Dave.. very interesting details of this era and your words bring it to life allowing us to enjoy the moment with u .. impressive write my friend.. with luv..

Sara Kendrick April 14, 2011 at 7:04 AM Very descriptive work..I am not familiar with city life so I don't know if this is the way it is in that kind of neighborhood..Can only know from what I see on tv, movie, and news reports..I am glad that I chose this one to read this morn..Sara