the fear of God and others

as children,

attending St. Thomas More,

across the foot

bridge into

D.C.,

in the early sixties,

we were afraid of God,

but also afraid,

of getting

beat up by the boys

who lived

on that side

of the wire fence,

and storm drains.

they knew

we had money in our

thin envelopes

for mass.

two each, one for each

collection.

but we were quick, we were

fast.

and ran for our lives

as they chased us

in our Sunday best.