the cherry tree

you knew
hunger as a child.
the empty
hollow
row of cupboards.
the plates
clean
and dusty.
but there were
eggs.
and bread.
somewhow.
bought on
bounced checks.
milk, of water
and powder
poured from a
tall box.
long cased
tubes of bologna.
mustard.
for dessert
there was a
cherry down the
block
that we climb
and filled up
on until
the porch light
flickered on
and off and we
slipped away
into the dark
of night.