Summer Walks
—by BasiaMik

Sturdy brick houses laid out
neatly surrounded by green lawns
lushy trees and white plastic fences
cars at every curb
driveways
garages
patios

the smell of hickory beef
BBQs on heavy June afternoons
soak the already mouth-warmed air
to complete saturation

if you walk by the backyards
you’ll feel the pang of softener
white shirts and heavy jeans hang by

the birds—they know songs are
best sung at night
but if I could
I’d beg them
not to continue
past sunrise

I’d like as much time on my pillow,
thank you.

at least there’s always the cool evening,
who keeps me company
and the man in the house
at the end of the street,
who strikes out sonatas past midnight