On Jupiter Place

After my mother was diagnosed
with tuberculosis I lived
in one of the identical
brick houses on a long street
with my grandfather who worked
twelve-hour days six days a week
and my grandmother
who was too restless
to stay home for long
so that I was left on my own
at age four with plenty of time
to meet the neighbours
Mr Porti the building inspector
who died of a heart attack
behind the wheel of his Plymouth
and Mr Cleary the Con Ed linesman
with the Marine Corps tattoo
who chainsmoked Camels