there was Kenny
trying to break up
a fight
that Joey couldn’t stop
that Phil got into
because of his big mouth
at White Castle
in between those belly bombs
and stale coffee
and all three
getting hell beaten out
of them
and the guy who did it
pressing charges
and poor Kenny
being over 21
is the one
who goes to jail
only to return
a year later
wearing mascara
hip hugging pants
and selling what he has
on four two street
bad boys
Margarita DeAngelis
Margarita was ripe
before her time
at thirteen she was with the bad boys
causing Timmy Jessen’s downfall
and giving Jimmy Johnson one month of bliss
at fifteen she dated college boys
and though I was long gone
by her eighteenth year
I’m sure she married well
she once confessed to me
she did not want to end up
like her older sister Francine
handed off from the Galtieri brothers
to Tony Esposito
and then down the line
this in a moment of self-reflection
they all often had with me
but I do believe
she made it out
if anyone did
with fewer scars
and even less memories
Leonard Durso 