THE BROKEN HOME

The fuse box was flickering, it needed updating.

The faucet came off the sink, it needed changing.

The light switch snapped, it needed doctoring.

The cord of the fan came out, it needed rewiring.

The kitchen window cracked, it needed replacing.

The heater stopped working, it needed refurbishing.

The water meter was inaccurate, it needed correcting.

The cable was always pix-elating, it needed upgrading.

The slop sink had a crack in it, it needed mending.

The hot water heater was leaking, it needed patching.

The sewer line was clogged again, it needed snaking.

The wiring wasn't up to code, it needed revamping.

The cabinets were stained, they needed refacing.

The closets were cluttered, they needed reorganizing.

The hinges came off the gate, they needed tightening.

The living room was uninviting, it needed redecorating.

The dining room was full of ants, it needed spraying.

The wood floors were scratched, they needed polishing.

The furnace was the original, it needed removing.

The fence slats began to rot, they needed mending.

The landscaping looked messy, it needed revitalizing.

The mailbox fell off the rail, it needed re-affixing.

The lawn was full of bare spots, it needed reseeding.

The weeds grew in the patio's cracks,they needed pulling.

The driveway was cracking, it needed resealing.

The front porch was gray and aging, it needed painting.

The storm door was sagging, it needed adjusting.

The siding was moss covered, it needed power washing.

The shingles were aged and worn, it needed re-roofing.

The costs rose and the bills piled up, it was never ending.

The family’s bank account emptied, they needed lending.

SHARP

Nothing like

a 52 inch

flat screen to

bring us all

together each night to watch

games, movies, our shows.

I AM THE NEIGHBORHOOD

I am chain link fences, above ground pools, metal sheds from Sears.

I’m the place where homes don’t have garages or wide driveways

and where cars cut through to avoid the traffic out on Route 18.

You’ll see for sale signs on many lawns for well over a year.

It’s a buyer’s market, but no one want to buy these. They came here

decades ago from Newark and Jersey City, now they want to leave.

I am the neighborhood that used to be called Circle Manor.

I’m where the magnolias grow and drop their blossoms too soon.

I’m where squirrels build nests in mighty oaks and gorge on acorns.

I’m a place where cats climb into yards and make themselves at home.

I’m where Statues of the Virgin Mary sit alongside Slomin’s Sheilds,

and where you find Smiley’s Laundromat next to the Halal Meat Shop.

In the cold winter air, smells from Hong Kong Express travel quickly.

At night the neighbors drag their green robo-trash cans to the street.

and sometimes you hear a train whistles up by Bordentown Avenue.

I am the neighborhood that used to be called Circle Manor.

I am the old forgotten neighborhood in this suburban town.

Others are having curbs and sidewalks replaced, I never had them.

In the center of it all is Jersey Pride, a place where middle aged men

line up nightly with cash and a quarter to begin scratching off cards

labeled Double Down, Big Money, Diamond Spectacular, Win for Life.

Either you stay here a few years or you’ll never leave, is what they say.

I am the neighborhood that used to be called Circle Manor.

CORNER STORE

coffee- light and sweet

cigarettes and scratch offs

today’s Star Ledger

WAITING ON THE CLOSING

I didn't think it’d be possible to love this

little blue house in this old neighborhood.

Close together, so much alike, built in ’51.

Our first home, a good place to get started.

Then we’d move on to bigger and better.

In springtime we’d take rides to get a look.

We’d drive slowly, up and down the street,

catching a glimpse of the white picket fence,

bright yellow forsythias, tall and mighty oaks.

Never thinking about all the leaves we’d rake.

I think that’s a lilac bush, I remember saying.

An array of slate rocks served as a walkway,

grape hyacinths on the lawn, a hydrangea row

alongside the three car driveway- a good spot

to learn how to ride a bike or to play basketball.

With porch lights shining, inside the family

who sold the house, packed boxes, we hoped

they hadn't seen us, but wished we could've

gone in to measure windows, to see where we’d

place the sofa, once the lawyer closed the deal.

THOUGHT I’D LIVE IN A HOUSE

in the country, surrounded by trees,

she speaks aloud on our Sunday drive.

Marveling at the wealthy homes she sees.

Waking to songs of birds, I’d feel so alive.

coffee on the deck to begin each day,

It’d feel like church, a perfect place to pray.

Set way back off the road, so much space.

Now I know we’ll never live in such a place.

INSTRUCTIONAL VIDEOS

In the dead of winter, I get up early to

find my house too cold, the heater runs,

but it’s blowing cold air out of the vents.

The thermostat tells me it’s 63 degrees.

I think about what to do as I know the

serviceman won’t come out right away.

I’m bad at fixing things, I never know

how to start, I don’t have the right tools.

I go to You Tube and look for free advice,

and I know what that’s worth- nothing.

I type in- my heater is blowing cold air.

Each guy talks too much with their hands,

they all have mustaches, slight accents,

they wear khaki pants and polo shirts.

They look like they’re somebody’s Dad.

They say the same things, be sure to check

the thermostat’s batteries, the breakers,

the filter, change the filter and make sure

none of the vents are  blocked by furniture.

Look for flashing lights on the bottom, then

count the number of flashes, it’ll tell what’s

wrong with your unit, read the panel door.

Perhaps it’s the thermocoupler? It’s probably

dirty, they show me how to properly clean it.

Be careful as you could damage the sensors.

Be careful as you might get yourself electrocuted.

The last word of advice from them all is the same-

if you’re unsure, don’t attempt to repair it yourself,

consult the yellow pages, call a licensed professional.

And after an hour, that’s the advice I chose to follow.