Progress

It was anything but game 

that day at the turquoise

house, sapphire shingles and

yellowed pearl shutters -

                but yet I hoped - No!

                Faith hoped for me.

Fair play like

slanted lines - No,

                but rather crooked, a Pisa - No

Paris…

                “Roaming is what I do

                b-b-b-best and I do

                b-b-better’n you

                and if ya d-d-d-don’t like it

                lawd have muecy…”

the older boy whispered,

(rather stuttered

in the house with the crooked shutters).

I craved Pelé that day,

                European fútbol

                and field goals of Americana - but

the backroom was happenin’.

And all I really wanted was to enjoy

the sapphire & turquoise,

(colors intrigue me)

the pearl shutters yellowed sallow

and rare as Baldwin - old; dead, corrupt.

But they did have cookies

& milk & jazz &

above all

they welcomed me to tomorrow.

Copyright © 2005 Jacquii Cooke