Wildwood, NJ

ah, memorial day
the entire country
mourns
at the shore

pretzel and beer communion
mass confusion
paying penance
on carnival rides
and in hot dog stand
confessionals, but
zz…Frankie says relax…zz

tanned college girls
flip back teasing hair
using the breeze
for a comb
beautiful bronze asses
hang out
on the boardwalk
with grip-bruised thighs
from the night before

i clench my fists
making a wish

the beach is alive
on fire
jumping
to rock n’ roll music,
lusty Atlantic vibrations
complete a collage
of colorful sounds…
 
“it’s everywhere”
reads the tee-shirt
of a wrinkled old man
with his best friend,
a metal detector
 
baby in a playpen
throws sand
on her sleeping parents
but they won’t wake up
and she cries
 
sophisticated ladies
shading sunglassed eyes
lie on the beach blanket
bathed in oil
so cool
white hot
experienced
 
pretty boys smile
flexing pumped muscles
throwing frisbies™
and footballs
just shy of the girls
who giggle and know
their time’s coming
maybe this summer
 
when the sun goes down
the temple’s forsaken
and god’s city creatures
turn to neon again
 
     Maple Shade, New Jersey ‘85