I come out of my street

to get cat food and a slice

right away there’s chaos everywhere

a cop car takes off full siren

tilts off south

on cue the youth

blow

I’m on my bike rolling past them

one group is loading in a cab

others chase

One or two from the cab

want to stay and fight

all are white

the poor cabby’s African Canadian

sees me looming past on the bike

looks worried - I make a reassuring face -

the large group of young African Canadians who were

standing near the wall of the Brunswick one or two

tried to read my face

I nodded to the cabby it was alright

the two white groups were ready to fight each other

but a couple of others were yelling "Drive! Drive! Get in the cab! Go! Go! Go!"

at about 3:30 in the morning. I got past them and was sailing along

when the throw of their violent charge came rushing

it’ll overtake my position (from behind!) so I stop and turn

They stop. The loaded cab takes off

I circle the neighbourhood unwilling to leave all the young

faithfully brainwashed stragglers on their own

Every time I think everything is fine and start to set off

there’s another explosion of noise so I circle the understreets

Everything seems fine I head south: —- Pizza —-

a customer says something to the chef

the chef says something like

"fuck you you say fuck you to me"

all as one syllable so my nod

that looks like agreement is partly admiration

but I do nod tentative concurrence get a fresh slice

he says thanks I go north

thats the thing just a little farther south a lot less policed

but the people are tougher and there’s a lot

fewer coming through on bikes zipping around

Saturday nights have been like this ever

since the same scenario always with the cars and the big shouts

last night after all I went for a Shwarma and

there’s the hosts of the Pilot reading series lexiconjury

finishing off the snack with robust contentment

and this ‘violence of the streets’ just isn’t the homeless

hardly have any cigarettes remember "Pizza! For fuck

sakes Pizza!" "George, what’s worse than a

confident psychopath?"

I think of a witty reply but it’s not for me

I keep the dimes but give the looney

well worth pausing it’s like "reset"

and then back in the light with the tv

and a good and interesting slice