Spent My Youth in an Alley
Went back this weekend out of town
For a family birthday party
To where I spent
Some of my youth
Backing my sister in-law's car
Out of her garage
Into the alley behind her house
Brought back some memories
Drove slowly as I bumped along
Over old potholes
Who's supposed to fill them now
Heavy brush and blackberries on both sides
Ahead of me was a young boy on his bike
He had a bouncing empty wagon forced to follow
Tied with a frayed piece of scrap rope
To the seat post of the bike
Another boy was following
As fast as he could on foot
This was only a couple of blocks
From the alley where I used to play
Alleys are great
Protected from traffic and parent's eyes
Old man Mitchell's dogs would warn us
If anyone was coming
Back then my alley
Had fresh oil and gravel
If the city truck didn't come in time
My grandfather kept the potholes filled
Brought the fill home from work
In the bed of his pickup
Sometimes I'd get to help him shovel
I asked him why he did it
'I'm not paying to get
Your grandmother's car realigned again
How in the hell
Does she find every new pothole? '
Once we were done
I'd get to wash his truck
Sit behind the steering wheel
And pretend
[...] Read more
poem by Tom J. Mariani
Added by Poetry Lover
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