Grass and Ice Cream (new version)

are real; not often to those
hidden at the top of
stairwells in big cities

where overturned garbage
is often visited by
raccoons and other feral

creatures. Shut-in from the
joy of life, children
wave to their neighbours

dressed in brand names
and hurrying off somewhere
fingers drumming iPods,
sneakers blinking.

So hot up here on a
Saturday morning vigil,
momma at work
baby sitter watching TV.

© Richard L. Provencher