On kennedy street northwest

[dcmarti1]

Older black
Men stop and ask me
Where in the hell I found a
Push-reel mower in this day and age.
They tell me the yard looks nice
And not one cares that
I am white.

Ancient black
Women stop to yell
At me for not wearing shoes,
Even though a push-reel does not have
An engine. They cluck their tongues
But not one cares that
I am white.

Teenage black
Girls snap their fingers
And necks at intersections
With windows rolled down. "White boy cuts grass
On Kennedy Street?" I want
To kiss them because
I am old.

[dr_con]

And this. Find both of today's poems to be excellent slices of life. Having lived in Oakland, I can appreciate the perspective here. A wistful slice of life, and the 'Were all in this together' attitude. marvelous.

 

Con/Jur/D

[dcmarti1]

And this. Find both of today's poems to be excellent slices of life. Having lived in Oakland, I can appreciate the perspective here. A wistful slice of life, and the 'Were all in this together' attitude. marvelous.

 

Con/Jur/D

 

Ah, Emile Zola & "slice of life". Yes, I wanted to be earthy in these pieces: I tried to ditch Marlowe and Racine -- well, translated Racine! Again, glad you enjoyed.

[fdelano]

I'm betting they thought you a "crazy-assed cracker" with a push mower. Unless you have a tiny lawn, get a mule. ;) And put on your shoes!

[dcmarti1]

I'm betting they thought you a "crazy-assed cracker" with a push mower. Unless you have a tiny lawn, get a mule. ;) And put on your shoes!

 

Yes, Franklin, the lawns are quite small up here in the Petworth neighborhood. Shoes? Never!

[Gatekeeper]

It's going to get worse, you know - that kissing and old business.

 

A curse it is.

[moonqueen]

marti, I quite like this. Racial issues are some of the things that escape me. I just don't understand why any of it matters, why people are not just people to all others. It doesn't settle in this brain. Very nice work, on this.

 

t

[badger11]

A slice of life as Dr C. mentions, though one gender/age is conspicuously absent.

 

enjoyed

 

badge

[fdelano]

Showing my ignorance. Have reread this "slice of life" a few times. Which gender/age is "conspicuously absent?" Middle-aged Asians, Hispanics, homosexuals, bisexuals or metrosexuals? Does a moment in time have to be all-inconclusive and politically correct? Not critiquing a critique; just trying to learn. To me, the value is in the friendly friction and banter between differing cultures and ages, but I have often been wrong, especially about poetry.

fdh

[badger11]

Which gender/age is "conspicuously absent?"

 

 

The young, black male. This is not a negative. It adds intrigue to the poem.

[dcmarti1]

 

Which gender/age is "conspicuously absent?"

 

 

The young, black male. This is not a negative. It adds intrigue to the poem.

 

Um, wow. The absence even escaped me. I did not realize it until you stated this. I may need a rework. :)

 

Thanks also gatekeeper, moonqueen.

[badger11]

I don't think you should add it dcm. Stops the poem becoming formulaic, the absence adds some colour.

 

Just my opinion

 

badge

[David W. Parsley]

Hey dc, I really really like this piece, for all the reasons cited. Count me among the don't-mess-with-it crowd. I like the simplicity and subtle idiomatic cadence, the stanza movement, just a touch of ambiguity.

 

Let your soles taste the grass - blade and root, bro.

- Dave