-Couplet for Angela and the Egg-man -

Tenement living.

First floor tenement living.

The benefits are transcendent 

And the benefits are transparent.

The stairs are there for visiting upstairs.

The upstairs neighbors visit
By descending them and knocking at our door.

The kids are always screaming for their way.

Their mothers are reluctant to give way to them.

The water’s heating on the stove for something.

Then something is prepared with the water.

The pots of water are poured in the tub

Or else, the stiff spaghetti is dropped in the water.

She stirs the spaghetti

As she stirs the heavy soups
And thickening polenta.

Nothing is needed to stir the bath.

But the same pots are used to heat the water.

Outside, next door, Angela has hung
Her wash to dry in the sun

And she feels them

By walking along the line

Grasping the material, releasing, grasping,
Along the line as it catches its breath
From the weight of the water.

She walks the line of material from window to pole

Testing material hanging on the line
Drying in the sun.

This is something that can only be done
When testing the wash of the first floor.

Inside, the egg-man delivers two dozen
Then climbs the stairs to the second floor.

                                                        Quequchan