Thursday, July 6, 2023

from ROAD TRIPS



THE EMPTY PARK


You returned in the still quiet to 

Dyker Beach Park and sat in the 

Glare of broad daylight 

Under the old night street light.


You lost parts of yourself as I did 

When moments tumbled away 

When so many of us went away.


That was the place where the 

Chipped pieces of our button candy 

Melted into washed swirls of abstract art …


Where yesterday’s bumpy seesaw,

Broken now, points to a tired and 

Rusty jungle gym where you chased me

As if catching me would be a brass ring. 


The benches where the old grandmas sat

And gossiped about the cuckold

Are empty now and dirty snow has

Collected on the path where strollers

Stood at attention waiting to be pushed 

All the way home.


You returned for seven days:

As if sitting shiva would

Give you sweet solace and comfort 

And bring you closer to 

Something that once was. 


©  2020 Marjorie J. Levine



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