No Longer the Hood

I drive downtown
to go look at a job.

it's in the middle of the city
and takes an
hour with normal

traffic.

it's where the hood used to be.
it's where the riots
were in

the late sixties.
gangs,
drugs, hookers. the whole
catastrophe
was in play

up 14th street and Georgia
avenue.

now I see the strollers
being pushed.

daisies coming up out of yards.

the houses are painted pinks
and blues.
new picket fences.

dogs are barking, kids are
on swings.

there's a barbeque going on
in the corner house,
with Biff and Molly,

Hillary
and Hugh.