Flapjacks Flashback

Waiting  for  breakfast,  I  was  caught  in  a  mental  pan  of  reflection……

Members  of  time,  way  back

Before  New Jacks  and  skinny  jeans

I  recall  shout  outs  by  mama,  before  going  in

When  streetlights  were  the  stars at  night,  twinkling

Sugar  water  was  my  breakfast  of  champions,  even  then

Tang  was  the  red bone  up the  block  down  to  run  trains

My  sneakers   was  busted,  once  a  year  reupping  on  Super   Pro  Keds

Roundup  was  all  block,  running for  days,  until  caught  by  friends

Pops  was  on  the  corner  drinking  Gin and Juice,  with  same  old  dudes

Black  Spades  chasing  Javelins,  only  to  be   down   with  each  other  truce  

Zip  guns  was  arts  &  crafts,  like  pouring  wax  in  skelzees  bottle  caps

Stickball  was  played  by  stealing  brooms  from  wherever  they  laid at

Whacking  Spauldings  until  all  balls  are  roof(ed) and  can’t  be  found  again

Seasonal  Click-Clacks,  Tops, roller skates  and  Yo-Yos,  Slap-boxing  skills  all  for  play

Screwing  out  elevator  lights  to  play  “corners”,  hitting  hard enough  to  see  stars

Roof  jumping  factories,  harassing  night  watchman,  almost  getting  hit  by  cars

Wrestling  on  cardboards,  putting  sleeper  moves  on  friends  and  bouncing  and  cutting  flips off  dirty  mattresses,  

Water flowing  from  open  hydrants,  cutting  open  cans  on  both  ends,   wetting  cars  passing  by  even when  they  said  we  can’t…..

Running  the  dozens  and  snapping  on  each  others,  even  talking  about  each  others  mamas!!!

At  night  splitting  up  boy/girl,  for  some  run,  catch  and  stuff  when  no  grownups  were   looking

All  in  the  daze,  as  reality  flips  over   in  my  mind,  How  I  came  up  in  Bronx  in  the  1970s…….

“Two  stacks  of  pancakes  please”,  as  I pay  for  my  breakfast  for  my  grandson,  not  far  from  where  and  how  I  came  up…….Good  Times!!!

PEACE