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