There's one street light

There's one street light that hasn't changed
maybe a little yellower
perhaps a little dimmer
but still lamenting over the same trash littered dirt
choking out even the weeds that try to grow there

I remember that street light
the way I remember the dude on the corner asking for change
not that I recognize him
but that he's playing the same part
possessed by the spirit of the same kind of
resignation

It has seen the dirt drink dark blood
leaking terribly from foolishness gone too far
It has been disrespected by angry reds
bloodthirsty whites, and deadly blues
And it has seen my hot, tasteless tears
running like streams down my face in the summer night

It is an old man's memories
of a world blown away
like plastic bags chasing after cars speeding down side streets
the same tint of sadness
as the empty beer bottles clinking against the curb
beside a car parked because the tank is on E

It's the last sigh I can afford to spare this corner
a last tribute to ghosts of smiles and laughter and arguments
that used to play like old vinyl at two in the morning
when we were still young
before they left me to grow older on my own

©06.15.2018 ebn