the sand lot

when we were kids
we'd go down to St. Elizabeth's
Hospital
and look through the iron
fence at the mad men
and women
who wandered the grounds.
set free
from the red brick building
to be in the sun.
some in conversation with
the air,
or trees, others slumped
on benches, or on
bent knees.
we wondered how, we wondered
why, as we stood there
with ball caps on,
our gloves in hand.
bats and balls.
we stared and wondered
about this strange
dark world we were yet
to know about,
before running off to play
on a field not far
from where we were.