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| photo by Penny K. Sherman courtesy Bluebell Books |
Life is good on Ego Alley*
Lazy days of heat and haze
Sipping margaritas topside
From the Captain's lounge chair
Watching the tourists
Watching you
In your cleverly named boat
While in another alley
Just a few blocks away
The tourists avert their gaze
While a small boy plays
With a beer can and a stick.
In a puddle of rainwater and piss
He guides his boat around cigarette butts
And a used tampon applicator
Until his mother yells for him to quit.
*"Ego Alley" is a small, narrow waterway that leads to the heart of the city of Annapolis, MD. It got it's name from the endless parade of boats and yachts that traverse this dead end canal, usually only to see and be seen.
submitted for Thursday Short Story Slam, Bluebell Books
13 comments:
Real life isn't found on a boat, that's for sure.
the line between the have, have nots and the tourist is slim though often unnoticed...
Nice to meet you ;)
In a puddle of rainwater and piss
He guides his boat around cigarette butts
And a used tampon applicator
Until his mother yells for him to quit.
love it,
very beautiful imagery and creative words...
What's sad is that these "Ego Alley"s are so many up and down the coast line both east and west ,also, in the resorts of the great lakes.
I've been witness to this and am concerned that this condition, kids finding toys in the same pile where they search for food, will only grow if we allow a particular segment of our political terrain to gain ground.
Hope I didn't overly politicize your space.
Wonderful words, Lolamouse!
The line of demarcation between the 'haves' and the 'have nots' is usually pretty thin. Just behind the lords castle is the slum where his servants live.
Some people have too much money.
Great writing!
To think that people say there is no real class system in the U.S.
Great to hear from you again... thanks for stopping by.
This is a fabulous piece, love the contrasts and the power of the second alley. Very well written.
Nearly missed this! Just about to click off and I saw it. Brilliant stuff! Oh I wish I had time to give time to all these wonderful blogs!
Anna :o]
Sadly, the economic gap is always so blatant - fantastic write on it!
Wow, interesting and powerful take on two extremes. Very thought provoking.
pensive, powerful, beautifully expressed.
Powerful & thought-provoking piece !
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