14. Queens

Queens
My 718 playground
Trick-or-treat fall bounty
Chain swing sidewalk chalk cradle 
Schoolyard for scabby knees and hiding at the neighbors
from the cool burn of belt buckle SMACK 
Minefield sidewalk every crack could snap my mother in half
so, travel by skipping 
See the world by tree-climbing 
and failing to reach that bluebird nest 
Fall and bleed many times 
while looking for chocolate in high shelves
Dream of running away 
Run away, but get no further than the screen door 
get spanked for trying
Shiver at empty shoes swaying from telephone lines
sight most chilling by lamplight
wonder where the children had gone
if they could survive in this city barefoot