One Year Out

She was art
fractured narrative
the nose of every
sculptured face
on my building
is gone.
Who broke every nose?
On Halloween
some neighborhood kids
were throwing eggs at windows
and running.
I just put my key
in the door
and didn't say a word.
Like the other day,
a man on a bench
said, "Hey, my man. Hey, pimp."
and I kept walking.

It's funny that
back in high school
or maybe a little later
my friends and I were
going to a concert
(wonder which one)
and I crossed the street
to avoid a group of
somewhat threatening-looking individuals
and my friend chided me
with "Uncool."
That was basically in
the neighborhood where I live now.
Never liked to go there much before
but I think it's okay now
except for late night incidents
like someone yelling in the alley
the other night.
I wanted to yell, "Shut up!"
but I didn't really want to start anything.

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