Where I Live
gangster saxophone
steam and spit valve
nighttime
always nighttime
in this neighborhood
of permanently puddled streets
time lapse scaffolding
incidental crossing islands
nowhere
in this irregular geometry
of pedestrian clotted grated sidewalks
rattling trucks and doppler sirens
is it ever quiet
it’s how we know all’s well
or as well as things get down here
where we step out on our
fire escapes
to scan the street below
and eavesdrop on conversations strolling by
maybe gaze up at the stars
through bare tree branches and telephone wires
careful to conceal ourselves
from neighbors and other strangers
Bruce Rosner
Bruce Rosner is a poet and songwriter, and to keep the rain out and the refrigerator stocked, is a marketing communications strategist and copywriter. He has also conducted poetry writing workshops in elementary and middle schools in Southeastern Pennsylvania. He received a bachelor's degree from Temple University where he studied with the late poet, Henry Braun.