swift
by drew degennaro
Diamonds fill the backyard
by the thousands
sparkling in the winds that
shout like children
every night
with their eyes
pushed into pillows.
The moon
yellow like cheddar cheese
missing some chunks
lights
the streets
along rows
of houses
that sit
tall
under trees
lining the sidewalk
where bicycles,
basketballs, and baseballs
fly
high
all …

January 1993
by drew deGennaro
The breeze
Bothers the bushes
Frazzles the trees
Pushes against the door
Of the car
Where I am trapped
Buckled down
Next to me
Sits my sister
The breeze
Hits the car
Like big rocks
That
Make us sway
In and out of traffic
On Highway …

sunny again
by drew degennaro
Mom and Dad
went back and forth
all over the house
chasing one another.
As clouds
threw chunks
of sour milk
at cars.
And us kids
crawled
under the kitchen table
pinning our ears
tightly against our heads
to muffle
the fight.
It got louder
and suddenly …

black eyes
by drew deGennaro

Mary’s eyes were black.
The circles left by her mascara
looked like she got hit
with a fist.
Joe came towards her.

The electric was out
and the two
yelled at one another
repeatedly. …

joey ‘no toes’
by drew deGennaro

Did ya hear
your cousin
Joe
escaped
the hospital
on foot
yesterday
 
after
Doctor A.
called out
the hit
 
knocked off
Joey’s little friend
Charlie
 
like nothing
 
and Louie
‘The Big Toe’
Romano
got stubbed
 
tying
to save
Ol’ Chuck
who’s now
swimming
with …

breath
by drew deGennaro

Where I live the lights are left on
And spread like a blanket over the darkened cage
Where they chirp well past twelve and
That melody is why we sleep, with such ease
 
And in his chair, …