Secret Crime  #141
January 1, 2003

He spoke of French Cafe circa 1965...
I wish I had that personal knowledge
to write into a poem
instead
I can go back to
7-11's
and Chuck E. Cheese's
and Kinney shoes.
Kinney shoes had a little
horse go round
and I would race for the pink one
the second I got into the store
but my mother would promptly grab me
by the elbow
and sit me down to try on school shoes.

What I remember most
is being in a department store
and collecting pins and placing
them in my sweaty palm.
My mom never paid any attention
I was crawling around in pins
for god sakes!
Now of course I realize these things.
Still it was a good memory for me
I loved collecting pins
I used to get excited
when I found one
or two that had a ball on it
those were special,
I took those home.