LOCAL HISTORY
walking to the monroe county public library
the sidewalk under crabtrees
still spotted with stains from last autumn's fruit
one empty store three still occupied
all the windows receive and then lose images
of those passing by
next block:
1874--colored school
1915--carnegie library (colored school gone)
1970--library moves
1980--monroe county history center and museum
(swallows carnegie library)
all this is documented on signs on metal poles
then the plain geometry of the parking lot
and at the corner overhung by kind trees
the benches where the homeless guys spend part of their day
not too often letting out some wounded sarcasm
at one of those passing by on his way
to the monroe county public library