Disappointed I wasn’t deemed a future rockstar
or supermodel, I looked at my results, having no idea
what the job description would entail. I walked
home from school on Elder Ballou Road
wishing there were sidewalks, cars winding
and whizzing as I jumped on lawns
to get out of the way. I hated the smell
of the incinerator which burned trash everyday
at 4 pm, my eyes watering. Cold Spring Park
needed more benches for the oldies and swings
for the kids. The spinner was so rusty
those who slashed their fingers wound up
getting tetanus shots. Polluted Social Pond
gave me an ear infection. Too many bars.
Too many donut shops. We needed a book store!
An art movie house! What were we going to do
with all those empty textile mills, their cold
smokestacks and brick facades?

                              Now I’m meeting

with other industry experts to work it all out.