Same Old Story Blues

Gwendolen Mair

Foxtrot through dim light,

feet feelin' cement drum beats.

Nobody up, this side o'

three o'clock. Spree,

still runnin' free.

Gumballs, pixies droppin'

sugar on sidewalk,

soda pop, bouncing cans

against ribs filled with laughter.

Ain't nothin' onto us now.

Shrill wailin' in the distance,

stars and stripes lights blazin'

in background. Our shoes

still movin'. We caught now.

Momma gonna be angry.

Kid cop, skin the color

of shinin' moon,

whippin' gun up like cowboy's

cattle crop. Put 'em up,

don't move one li'l bit.

Hands raisin', wavin' sugar

sticks; blade of hard candy

flappin' in harlem breeze.

Honkin' horn throws silence,

gunshot bangin'.

Red soda pop crash on that

same old story street.