my hood - summertime vibes

my hood
is vibing with the hum of expectation 
my spring feels like summertime bathed in fall
hot and humid/cool and breezy
babyhair curlicues pasted to moist brows and inviting napes 
necks and decolletage exposed
thighs pumping down the street in hottie short shorts
hormones are spinning wildly all over
but it's all good, it's all part of nature 
and i'm feeling right 
in my hood
feeling nostalgic on this wet day
michael jackson streams from the window above and to the left
la nena sitting gazing out the frame has no idea
what it means to her mami who's washing dishes 
singing mamase mamasa mamakusa
in my hood
we sit on the benches, 
lean against the chainlink fences
talking, cracking jokes, as the sun is going down
no one wants to go in for dinner cuz
once one leaves, everyone else does, 
it's the trickle down law
no one wants to get up to go to the store
don't want to miss anything
laughing, like when i was a shawty...
and the youngins, they flirt, they smile
trying out these mating rituals
so brand new to those playing with the 
glances that have been practiced, for decades,centuries, 
papi gave mami that look i bet
even the little ones running, chasing, grabbing hands and
pulling each other to and pushing fro
and it's innocent but not so innocent
in my hood
dude, with the basketball always there
black plastic garbage bag full
that must be a good brand... 
the damn things lasts forever
his tattered gray coat and beaten hat 
his uniform
thank God we're not downwind
hold our breath as we pass... 
pastor asks him if he wants to enter and take a bath, 
"for what?" he asks rhetorically, 
i'll be dirty again in no time
in my hood
Brisas smells like garlic, rain and sweat
perfume, cologne and rice and beans
the place is packed with diners and people holding little numbers 
the bandejas de arroz fluffy and steamy
aromatic sofrito, adobo, and sazon
make mouths water as they wait for their order 
y la bolsitas llena de comida...man, i can already taste it
two bags full of food for 6, $35
tasting like a home cooked meal 
in my hood
last day of school inspires new teens to daydream
"this summer will be so much better than last summer"
and long walks to the movies in the early afternoon
trips to the bronx zoo to watch the seals 
la pompa nos llama on 90 degree mornings
parkchester parks where the kids ain't allowed to do shit 
but walk from the swing to the slide
public parks with kids together on swings 
nothing like touching the trees or hopping over the fence
yearbooks were signed today
parents breathed relieved sighs today
tired of other people that dont know shit telling us about our kids 
in my hood
time for fireflies
stiches and bikes
scrapes and baseball
basketball til midnight
and music pumping from the cars as the nenita-ridebys
break their necks to peek in for a potential cutie
bbqs at pelham, hammocks and salsa
i miss my childhood at this time of year 
there is nothing better than being a kid and 
learning, about to learn about life
in my hood
ain't no place perfect
but there's nowhere better for us
the public school across the street
the chino's toy store up the block
with the cars and machines my boys love to rock
like me and my cousins did
my boys walk the streets that i walked
and play with kids like the kids i played with
the sights and smells, the sounds are the same
it's the reason why i wouldn't leave the bronx 
i put down roots and found me a home 
in my hood
so my boys could be about it
educated by my books and my life 
and as hard as times can get, 
i won't have trouble explaining to them
and they are safer than i ever was, 
because we managed to find the balance and 
the kids i grew up with, we kind of doin' good
and we're raising our kids right, so the energy is tight
in my hood