bajan Ashley

bajan Ashley
mrs ashley from barabados
was another immigrant here
we worked in the same firm, she was
a single parent raising chuck
then six, with an infectious smile
a lovable cuddly bear

twice each year
at the summer island picnic
and the x'mas kid's party chuck and
other kids would play and have fun

ten years later

a dark wintry evening
rushing home saw some teens emerge
from the corner variety store
three of the five youths were black
all of them wearing baggy jeans
ill fitting clothing with hoods
then the rage, instinctively i
felt the wallet
moved to more lighted area
and ran a preventive check list
all the while straining to hear
the footsteps following me
one of them caught up with me and
said, 'hello mr temporal'
'hello chuck, how are you,' said i
visibly relaxed with a smile