An annual collaboration of Tower poets
and local Carnegie Gallery artists for Arts Dundas

Poetry and art copyright © the author and the artist, respectively

Artwalk POETRY and ART

Hamilton Town Houses, by Marcella Prikryl

Hamilton Town Houses: For Marcella

by Allyson Wenzowski

Undisturbed
and filled with self-assurance,
she combs her hair.

When I was eight
I passed by homes like these
every day
on my way
to and from.

Sometimes the doors were open
and men in undershirts
with arms tattooed in anchors and hearts
sat out front
on kitchen chairs
and rolled cigarettes
and drank beer
and wives in curlers and bandaged legs
ironed in the background
while we played outside in the dark.

Sometimes the doors were closed
and leaves swirled in the gutter
and garbage bins punctured and dented
rolled by in the street
and rain washed off the hopscotch chalk
and the windows were nailed with plastic
to keep out the cold
and still we played outside in the dark.

Artwalk III, #11

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