Highland Park Block Party

Mr. Tarka wondered

"Why do wild-eyed girls
with long curly hair

waste days

reaching

for the skies

on the Showalters’ trampoline,"
 as he twisted his handle-bar mustache.

He watched the street fill
with ribbon-covered bikes

and the fields fill
with grills and expecting stomachs.

That night, his lights
were on 'til two

as the basketball
kissed the net,

making less noise
than a cricket.

Twelve o’clock heat
roasted my skin
while I headed down
to the pond-
where I saw his baby blue pickup
 drag dirt in its rear

as frogs left wet drops
 on green lillies.

I followed him down
to an empty lot
where he was building a house
with little more
than hammer and nails.

July 4th Carnival

Indulge in caramel apples

and hold its sweet smell

like kindergarten valentines

red, white and blue

ponies
on the Carousel.

And all the colors

wash over you

like sprinkles - dipped

in caramel.