Fence

Back Yard Barbecue

By: Charles Giuliano - Apr 25, 2015

Fence

Back yard
East 11th street
Between buildings
Bags of falling garbage
Tenants too lazy
For curbside trash cans
Rats and alley cats
Remnants of stone terrace
Gangs passing through
Open door
Quick escapes from
Mischief
Asked the landlord
Mr. Padziba
For materials to build
A fence
Delivered load of old doors
Gerry and I put them up
He intrigued
By digging holes in New York
Enclosed and cleaned
Planned garden party
Grill from bed springs and screen
On bricks
Charcoal beneath
Liles flipping burgers
Sangria in a bucket
Faces over the fence
We’re the 10th Street gang
And we’re hungry
Fed them
Neighbor above
Climbing down fire escape
Greeted nobly
By aristocratic Domingo
In perfect Spanish
Inviting him and his family
Most eloquently
The man froze
Apologized retreating
Outclassed
Fun in the slums