Grandpa rowed me on the Prospect Park Lake

Grandpa rowed me on the Prospect Park Lake

before barbecues were left to smolder

and Flatbush Avenue begged for renaissance

as graduates sweated speeches on broken velvet chairs

in historically tarnished Lowe’s Kings Theater

Erasmus Hall schoolhouse survived deterioration

Titus Oaks record bins were depleted and restocked

Linden Boulevard librarians climbed rolling ladders

being successfully middle-class was all that mattered

blackouts turned into clear-outs

the signs were in the strain

in cloudy minds on sunny days

the time to move-on came

of sold-out yesterdays 

and overstocked tomorrows

we readied to get packed

from prosperity into a developing nation

till twin towers toppled into dust bowls 

and dropped us through the cracks

April 29, 2017