People Who Live Above Stores

                                                                          Morse Avenue,
                                                                              Chicago

                                                                     by Donal Mahoney

 

                                                            It’s two in the morning

                                                            and people who live above stores

                                                            have sprung from their beds 

                                                            this hot summer night.

                                                           They’re leaning out of their windows

                                                           and bellowing into the street

 

                                                           at the baker who launched the alarm

                                                           in the Rogers Park Donut Shoppe.

                                                           It’s been ringing for hours

                                                           and the police haven’t come.

                                                           Not even the firemen.

                                                           The donuts will never get done

 

                                                           and it appears now that

                                                           people who live above stores

                                                          will remain in a rage

                                                          leaning out of their windows

                                                          waving cigarettes like strobes

                                                          and bellowing the rest of the night.