In this photograph

balancing atop the “pipe to nowhere”

running parallel between 1015 and 1017 Bedford

are from left, Janice D’Elia and pal Angela DeCorpo,

younger sister to twin Rosalind–– and standing,

offering a helping hand is pal Betty Ready.

I never knew a nickname for my sister Janice

nor one for Angela. but Betty had a nickname

among the teen queens of the neighborhood

memorialized in a recent poem closing in a requiem.

the house in the background is the great

incubator of life, designated by city planners as 1017.

the “pipe to nowhere” is found on the property of 1015,

home to the Pieroni family and the great knuckleballer, Paul Pieroni.

across the street to the left we find Columbus Park, (dedicated when

Christopher was thought to be a good-natured, inquisitive Marriner)

Whitey’s Esso station, the billboards and the inebriated Marconi Club.

off the frame to the right sits the rusty remnants of Rachlin's Junkyard.

above them the impenetrable, translucent sky.

below them the indelible imprint of their residence on Earth.

this is a love poem.

so that you know.