Polar Opposite
There is a street
of polar opposite ends.
To the north side,
the vines consciously grow their stems
up a million dollar investment
brick by brick.
Wishing to be effortless
but will forever feel forced.
To the south side,
one must drive carefully
for a child might sneak out
onto the pavement
carelessly laughing on a grandmother’s front yard.
A quick scare that softens
and reminds me of fourth grade friends.
This abandoned church bus
sinking into the weeds
with fractured windows
reflects a story unknown to me.
The white cross standing to the left
wanting to be noticed
leaves me at the end of this street
where I’ve witnessed at least
three different lives
on North Madison.