Jersey, New Jersey by Chris Dellapenta

i’m from jersey,
new jersey.

a well-off suburb
near the City-
fifteen minutes from the george washington bridge
at two AM

where fifties ranch-houses line
unnecessarily winding roads and
hills roll high enough to see the City’s
pink light in night clouds;
manufactured houses chop woods,
pavement everywhere.

American Revolutionary War history:
they say
Washington brought the Continental Army
through my town.
street names:
Continental Avenue; Adams Ave., Jefferson Ave., Monroe Court, classics
like
Oak Avenue, Fenway Court, Beechwood Drive, Whales Avenue.
a few cobblestone roads surround near ageing mini-mansions.
downtown gas stations, golden arches, donuts,
bakery-supermarket-laundromat-convenience store
sprawl.
pizza, and drug-dealing pizza delivery guys.
cops in public parks after dark, neighbors washing cars.
a diner that never closes:
passing years of high school drama
late-night
escape for chain-smoking husbands
meeting to discuss whatever.

good places for bad things:
the woods behind the Church,
the creek saddling the library,
the swamps behind the highway,
the neglected basketball court
near the dark doggie path,
the shooting range beyond the baseball field,
the railroad tracks.

i'm from jersey,
new jersey.