Wrecking Ball to Tenement

by John Grey / February 23rd, 2020

So what if you’re
a hundred-year-old tenement
and have been home
to many families
from Polish to Portuguese
to black to Spanish.
That means nothing to me.
I’m a giant ball of steel
swinging on
an unbreakable chain.

I get to do this again and again.
Before the hour is up,
you’ll be nothing but rubble.

Like the guy on your third floor
who liked nothing better

than slapping his old woman around,
I don’t have feelings,
just consequences.

John Grey is an Australian poet, US resident, recently published in New World Writing, North Dakota Quarterly and Dissident Voice. Latest books, ”Between Two Fires”, “Covert” and “Memory Outside The Head” are available through Amazon. Work upcoming in California Quarterly, Birmingham Arts Journal, La Presa and Shot Glass Journal. Read other articles by John.

This article was posted on Sunday, February 23rd, 2020 at 8:02am and is filed under Poetry.