HOT
HOT TOWN SUMMER IN THE CITY
Dierdre sat in the narrow yard of the semi in her highly
flammable acetate bathrobe Chainsmoking It was 7:30 a.m.
At about noon her father arrived +ushered her in She was
40 Months prior Diego had left her for her best friend there
most nights drinking wine with her forked tongue darting out
intermittently
A few months later Pacey moved in Beetred all year ’round A
private eye with a red light on the roof of his car Her father a
Bell Canada lifer offered to get her a job Our lights would flicker
when Pacey came Later she went back to work at the neighbourhood
restaurant It’s all I know And with blank Bell Canada eyes she
drank wine +chainsmoked for another decade
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*Diego’s sister continued to visit from Italy +her 10 yr old son could
often be heard well into his teens calling to her from the yard: ma
maaaaaaaaaa ma maaaaaaa Every once in a while apropos of
nothing either my 2nd husband or I will take up that plaintive call
While in my mind’s eye I see another husband circa 1979 calling:
Ommmelettttte Ommmmelettttte in a faux Brooklyn accent this the
name of the neighbour’s dog who on a hot summer’s night went missing
Summer 2018 .. Ode to the sounds of Summer
songanddancegirl 