The Speasters?
How could we figure out just what this new street moniker means?
Bestowed by our darker-skinned friend David McKinney
Growing up together on 20th Street in New York City’s Astoria Queens
Bequeathed to us due to the fact we could really move our keesters!
Our dreams of one day being baseball players for the New York Yankees!
Enhanced intuitively the few times we had spent at the costly Yankee Stadium bleachers
As Identical Twins we had always created something of a unique social stir
Enduring youth competition we had ever aspired to being
A now-you-see-me now-you-don’t speedy blur!
All manner of children fervently played in our daily ritual of Astorian street fair:
Tag
Ring-a-lario
Kick The Can
Catch-One-Catch All
Acorn Fights
Two-Hand Touch Football
Kill The Carrier
Stickball
Handball
Strike-Box
Box Ball
Wiffle-Ball
Basketball
Roller Hockey
Skelly
Marbles
Baseball Trading Cards
Halloween Egg-Throwing!
Were games contested if you dared!
Losers were met with The Look!
That can only be explained as austere
Bragging rights were the ultimate community prize
The creme de la creme!
For our individual courtyard lairs!
Before the night’s sleep
We would keep
To our next days
Victorious prayers
Everyone and I do mean everyone!
Availed to never end up in Booties Up!
The humiliating predicament for kids who did not win The Victory Cup!
Having a rubber spaldeen ball thrown at your inert backside is more scary than it is rough!
The childish connotation human being in this World you gotta be tough!
As separate racial and national packs
We all mingled with each other in the urban jungle
Whooping it up as the winners of competition!
Learning life lessons at opportunities bungled
Through it all not realizing
Growing up together can go quite fast
And the utter importance and dissonance
To treat well!
Respect Others!
For we are all travelers on this planetary Soul Craft
Mere child components
Transformed to adult
Racialized and Nationalized opponents
Of the American experiment caste
Respect Unto Others!
Especially our American Indian
Black and Brown
Sisters and Brothers
Never Forget The Past!
Let us build a bridge
For all to comfortably live!
Out with the trash!
History reveals the mysteries
Endemic even in a pandemic
Of United States Society
And the American Social Class Caste
The Appeal To Safety LLC 