September 2016
Robert K. Johnson
choirofday@cs.com
choirofday@cs.com
Born in New York City (in Elmhurst), I lived in several different places there but have memories only of The Bronx (off Fordham Road). Then my family moved out "on The Island"—to Lynbrook, where we stayed till I graduated from Hofstra (then a College). Several years after my wife, Pat, and I married, we, plus our two children, settled in the Boston area and have remained there (except for my daughter, Kate, who has lived in Manhattan for quite a while). I have been writing poetry since I was twelve (many moons ago).
Sympatico
(for my sister 1925-2011)
Strolling along the sidewalk
I come to a metal grate
and the plunge of black air beneath it
and swerve far to the left
just as we did as kids
and even later
but—oh, Jean—
I can't stop you
from stepping on that grate
as it collapses into darkness.
My Childhood World
10 Dean Street
A minute after I awake,
my muscles tense—my parents
will shout at each other all day.
It's always been like this,
so I never think, “Today
I'm so unhappy.”
I know only that
(like a secret gift
from a fairy godmother)
a calm comes over me
when, stepping outside, I see
how, midway down, the street
curves to the left
(like a warm arm that bends
at the elbow to hug my shoulders,
no longer tense).
Sympatico
(for my sister 1925-2011)
Strolling along the sidewalk
I come to a metal grate
and the plunge of black air beneath it
and swerve far to the left
just as we did as kids
and even later
but—oh, Jean—
I can't stop you
from stepping on that grate
as it collapses into darkness.
My Childhood World
10 Dean Street
A minute after I awake,
my muscles tense—my parents
will shout at each other all day.
It's always been like this,
so I never think, “Today
I'm so unhappy.”
I know only that
(like a secret gift
from a fairy godmother)
a calm comes over me
when, stepping outside, I see
how, midway down, the street
curves to the left
(like a warm arm that bends
at the elbow to hug my shoulders,
no longer tense).
©2016 Robert K. Johnson
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