behind the drugstore

behind the drugstore
we'd find
needles, syringes
and pants, shoes
and underwear
discarded.
bottles broken
bottles full
or half empty.
whiskey
and beer. cigarette
stubs. belts
and brassieres,
wigs. we'd
set our bats
and gloves down
and with long
branches
we'd sweep
this nocturnal
debris aside,
shaking our
heads at our
elders and make
room to play
stick ball against
the wall.