across the river
mike lazarchuk
Wind wails through frozen fences
Girl friend reheats coffee
Shudders staring out the window
At the tattered acres
Of East St. Louis
The lights of the city
Across the river
Hears commotion at the neighbor’s
Through crappy thin roach infested walls
The sound of fist smashing face
Shoving shouting hysterical
The sound of breaking furniture
Wailing babies
3 pops like lady fingers exploding
The lump of her neighbor’s
Estranged husband hitting linoleum
As her heart winds up
Sniffing the coffee vapors
Hearing the wind fill with sirens
Thinking of funeral bills&hypocritical tear stains
Already agonizing over lost tomorrows
Feeling herself turning inward
Standing st the window
Trying to dream on
