The Bronx, 1961
art by Stephen Ground
by Shana Ritter
The street is sheen heat flickers
off the sidewalks, we skip
to avoid cracks not wanting
to break any backs. Shouts
of ringolevio, echo off brick
squat six story buildings.
In the shade girls doubledutch chanting
I know something I won’t tell
three little monkeys in a peanut shell
on the corner another group surrounds
one girl bouncing a Spalding, singing
A my name is Alice and, raises her legs
above the ball back and forth
in graceful arcs through the alphabet.
The bells on the Good Humor
truck sound, and we gather
lift our voices to the windows
shout Mom, a quarter please
tied handkerchiefs weighted
with coins tumble down like parachutes.
Later we collect soda bottles
trade them for nickels to buy
foil wrapped Turkish Taffy
slapped against the stoops
the pieces break into slivers
vanilla, strawberry, chocolate,
our circle tight against the older boys
who could steal anything away.
See saws, hopscotch, ring toss swings
we owned it all until sundown
when mothers leaned out
past fire escapes, hands balanced
on the sills, called our names
to summon us home.
Shana Ritter’s poetry and short stories have appeared in journals and magazines including Lilith, and Georgetown Review as well as anthologies including Stormwash and Trigger Warnings. Her chapbook, Stairs of Separation, was published by Finishing Line Press. In the Time of Leaving, a novel of exile and resilience, is set in late 15th century Spain and newly published in 2024. Shana has been awarded the Indiana Individual Artist Grant on multiple occasions.
Stephen Ground is a writer, filmmaker, and picture-taker based in Treaty Six Territory [Edmonton, Canada].
