Traffic Lights
October 22, 1989

I've seen them change the traffic lights three times
since I was seven
First the yellow poles, then lights on wires
So that Artie, the drunk, didn't run his bike into the poles
every Friday night
Then, just last week, the huge gleaming silver poles
overhanging Main Street
The five light signals with extra turn arrows and sensors in the street
the big time

I miss the good old days
Saturday mornings walking down Main Street for doughnuts
Artie's front tire rim bent aside the curb