Now and again,

(when i was young)

The prostitutes would try and hustle

Just outside the neighborhood

I was raised in.

Some mornings they would be on the street that

Several other kids and I biked on our way to school.

Some of the kids would throw pennies

(sometimes they would get thrown back)

And yell obscenities at the ladies as we rode by.

I was always the last in line to pass them and

Could not help but look in their eyes,

Smile and blush.

Terribly embarrassed

I would

Yell

“I am sorry!”

And pedal as fast as I could to get away,

Trying to set my mind on

Learning and books.