outside my apartment building
there’s a rusting schoolyard
filled with screaming children
institutionalized citizens of
ambivalent futures
at night, before yard lights
blink out, pick-up games
of basketball dissolve into
forest fires and fist fights
late Saturday, almost Sunday morning
white kids, from popular addresses,
drive BMWs and Range Rovers
to this burning side of town
ghouls trick or treat
for pharmalogical party favors
cops that can’t be bothered
sit with me on the front step
different colored floats drift by
we smoke cigarettes and watch the clock
when i am alone, posh snobsters in dark suits,
billion dollar ambrosia and money for nothing denial
ask me: “what you got?”
when i say nothing
they hesitate as if touched
by an illegal alien
it took me awhile, as well,
when i first learned the truth
didn’t realize this was up…did you guys give up?