columbia place

northside pittsburgh, circa 1962

soaking up the smell

of cabbage and sausage
goulash
stale beer spilled over
on the stoops
at the end of the alley
screen doors slamming
out of row houses
off-white doily curtains
blowing through open windows
of peeling paint

this old world

about to change
forever

john f kennedy

rolling down brighton road
a fixed patrician smile
genuine nod
from the back of a convertible
a village comes out 
hands waving
sometimes a fist

--- e b bortz