The Old Johnson Neighborhood

We moved to Prospect Park for the
running. It's close to the river,
a bike to the U
a walk to tennis
and sledding in January.
We moved for the neighbors and they're
still good. Across the street we can get
gardening advice, sometimes a helping hand.

But I don't run in Prospect Park. It's technically
the South of Franklin neighborhood.
There's just too much.

Too much that reminds me of how I used to run.
How fast are those guys going? What kind of
dinner party is that River Road home having?
Do I need to be home for dinner?
Pick up the pace.
I might see my family.
Pick up the pace.

Now I run in the Johnson neighborhood.
It's so different than where I used to run
I tell myself
slow down, you've got time
Phalen Lake, a small ski park
these are a few memories of the old
Johnson

The old Johnson came in the Fall to speak.
The old Johnson was white,
big corporation CEO
The old Johnson spoke proudly of display
cases with trophies from hockey and
football championships.
Where are those cases?
The old Johnson spoke of opportunity,
promise and hope
but it wasn't Title One when he was here.
The old Johnson stood before Hmong, black American,
Karen, Liberian, Cambodian, Mexican, Somalian, Oromo, Ethiopian,
white American, undocumented, documented but
over seventy percent in need of
lunch today.