swing time

by Emily Shafer

 

a Long Island swing band sings
chestnut trees      by
the East River,
trumpets over the Nile,
punching the air with
          waterfalls

the gray crowd
surrendered to the beat-
ing sun,                            July
conservation billows,
the steamy breeze,
Rugrats & blue Sinatra,
picnics backwards on
benches sticking to chairs      inching       forward

sing along
young ones,
barreling bones &
secret saxes,
feet dancing between the band
                         and me,
harmonies under brave birds

a starstruck summer echoes

 

 

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