Edmund Siejka Poet Narrative

Sal, the neighborhood guy

Sal, the neighborhood guy 
by Edmund Siejka

“Hey Sal how you doing?
Holding down the same corner, right?”
“Yeah. Why is that bothering you?”
“It’s time Sal. Settle down, find a nice girl, get married 
and move from this neighborhood.”
“Why? And be like you. Miserable and always sneaking back to the block?” 
“I like to visit.”
“Yeah, you like to come back to see how bad everything’s become.”
“No, that’s further from the truth.”
“Well, let me tell you something the Avenue’s still busy
And people are buying
And new stores are opening up.”
“But they’re not the same stores we used to go to.”
“Whaddya mean? You prejudice or something?
These are hard working people
Y’know if you can’t find anything you ask 
And somebody will help you.”
“C’mon Sal you know what I mean. Let’s be copacetic.”
“Hey, I only got a high school education. Whaddya trying to tell me?”
“I’m not trying to say anything. You’re thinking too much.”
“So anyway, how’s the job? You eatin’ and the wife’s happy?” 
“Yeah,  I’m eatin’ good,  
Gotta go to the gym, lose some weight y’know?”
“Yeah, I can tell. Your belly is jiggling all the way. 
Man, you gotta cut out the carbs.”
“Whaddya know about carbs?”
“Sugar and all those sweets.”
“Yeah, you got me there. I love pastries. 
Can’t live without them.”
“Well, you need to learn to live without some things. 
You don’t have to have everything in the whole wide world.”
“Yeah, be like you. Standing on the corner watching life go by.” 
“At least I didn’t become something I’m not. So, think about this. 
When people see you cruising by, 
They laugh and say ‘Look who’s back.’ 
So, adios friend, 
See ya around next time.”

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