My hometown calls me back and
I have one beer at Corby’s,
Then walk up Colfax toward downtown
And see what’s going on there.
A 16 year old black kid is riding by me on his bike,
Calls me a cop for some unknown reason
Despite the fact that I hate cops
And have never had the desire to be one and yells
“With yo’ white ass!”
I yell back,
“Watch your language, man!”,
A little bit intimidated,
Calling him “man” and stuff.
All over town,
Everywhere is closed
Because of the COVID.
The upscale place has their dining room open.
I stand outside as a family of like 10 hispanics
Slowly files out,
One after another.
I’m nodding at all of them
Because my life is pretty good now.
I go in and ask if their
Upstairs bar is open and
It’s a black dude is a protective mask
And professional coat and pants,
Apologizing,
And
Giving me the
Exact date,
July 7,
That
Their upstairs bar and opening
And I’m thinking,
Sheesh,
This fu**ing town is
Still here, isn’t it,
And I walk out of the bar on a
Completely fruitless search for
Something to do and
I have everything I need as
The bright-eyed Hispanic yells
“Listos?”
And
My heart pumps fiery
Blood of Sangria rhythm because
When monkey see,
Monkey do.