Rutherford, NJ

2011 – 2015

 

I’m thinking about the williams center

in the middle of town

the streets branching outwards

it is the place to wedge yourself between the brick wall, metal fence

until you reach the hidden alcove and the brick gives way to a little bit of standing room

This is the place to spray a little paint

smoke a little new jersey ditch pot

give a few handies

 

we are wearing matching velour tracksuits

mine a cool purple, yours a sweet pink,

and we have the flavor of adulthood gumming our mouths shut

ignoring your parents’ tin foil trinkets that line the garage windowsill

 

it is on our trek back from the williams center

that you tell me about the guy who picked you up from swim practice

and drove you home

and what the back seat of his car

Felt like against your back

 

thwilliamcenter, as we would call it

Drawn out and round in our New Jersey mouths

It’s the william carlos williams center

 

the poetry of it dashed

With every hurt traded

and every blitz towards maturity