The Summers in South Bronx

I remember the South Bronx summers

playing stickball in the hot steamy streets

We played stickball with a broomstick 

We chased the ball in backyards 

Other kids went out to the pool 

to swim and splash all afternoon,

others sprayed the cold water

from the gushing fire hydrant, 

others, shirtless, rode their bikes

to the Botanical Garden at Fordham Road.

As darkness fell, we played tag until late at night

tired, hungry, no complaints, 

the South Bronx was our summer park — 

a place to laugh and run and play.