The Street I Used to Live On

Turn the corner onto Lyme Street

And I’m the first house on the right

The one that’s white with the blue shutters;

Two lion statues on the front steps of the house

Before double doors made of glass;

A clear mosaic with intricate design

A long driveway leading to the garage

And the family basketball court

A house radiating warmth

When mom is playing piano at night

Through the window while the children’s

Bedroom blinds drawn and blackness

Overcomes the room as they slept

Except mine, where it was dimly lit.

 

I used to run through the rock island on the front yard

Careful not to disturb the flowers my mom sporadically planted

Late at night while playing manhunt with my brothers and neighbors

But once ran across the street; trying my best to remain inconspicuous

Only for the next moment to find myself on the pavement

Tears falling while inspecting my scrapped knee and elbow

That would eventually lead to scars; still visible today

 

The house I endeavored to reach the front steps of

To gain a point for my teammates

Belonged to my aunt and two cousins

Automatically creating favoritism to those cousins

Due to our close proximity and constant communication

They had an array of potholes next to their mailbox

In which they shared with their neighbors that

Me and the neighborhood kids gathered at

In anticipation as we heard the tedious jingle

I licked my lips of the thought of lapping my tongue

Against the sweet taste of a Spongebob popsicle

Not before chewing the gumballs set as eyes beforehand

But I was always left last, as I was the baby of the group

 

Across the street from the arrangement of potholes

Was our personal version of the woods

Minuscule, yet with a generous amount of trees

Where my brothers, neighbors and I would climb

Racing to see who could climb the highest and the quickest

I was always defeated due to my deficit in height

As my short stature never kept up with my brother’s long legs

Allowing them to climb and transition branch to branch with ease.

I took the loss and kept climbing

Enjoying the thrill and challenge to see how high I could climb

And enjoying the company of my brothers and neighbors

 

Our own personal utopia

Four houses bonded by

Man-made trails between each house.

The street no longer is filled with children

Each family moving onto the next adventure

Filling the street with strangers who isolate themselves

Leaving a cold and empty ambiance

In a place that once held children that gathered and played

Without a care in the world