Cant wait for the movie - Here is a poem I wrote a few years ago. I hope you like it

My Bronx
By Steward “Tony” Pacheco

I miss the smell of wet concrete, on a hot, wet summer day.
The sound of stick-ball in Bronx streets, were we used to play.
Skellies on the pavement, Slugs against the wall
The sound of playing Kick The Can, the smell of a Spaldeen ball

I miss the Handball, Football, Baseball, without equipment and on the fly,
from street to street, we challenged all, on concrete Hot and Dry.
I miss the girls I dated, so sweet, so smart, so shy.
These things are what made me a man, as my teenage years went by

I miss the Irish, Italian, and Jewish dads, that taught a kid like me
That we all had something, which we could share, to help us better be.
All the confrontations, good friendships, as well as hard times,
My kids have all they want now, but “My Bronx” I can't supply.

Parades on the Grand Concourse, Orchard Beach, when we skipped school,
Ice cream sodas at Krum's back then, Hippies that were cool.
The Loews on Fordham Road, the Kent and Astor too.
We would sneak in from time to time, to see a flick straight through.

The Yankees and the Giants, at “My Bronx” Stadium they would stay,
Spinning Tops and Skelly Caps were the weapons of that day.
We all invented skateboards, before they were in stores,
Nailing half a Super Skate, to rusty 2X4's.

Always an explorer, visiting all the blocks,
Meeting all kinds of people, in our Converse and holey socks.
We ran and jumped and climbed and dug in whatever park close by.
We had so many kids around and never had to sigh.

Now I am in Texas, living large, some may say
I am My Bronx, I act, I speak, I carry it all day.
I am unique, in this Lone Star State, and they accept me that way.
I owe most of that, to Catholic school and the yardstick of that day. ;0)

It's kind of funny how life turns out, but no matter where I go.
I'm proud of being from My Bronx, It's a pride, most will never know.
Though God in all his mercy, has pulled this Bronx Boy out
When I'm asked " Where are you from? "

“THE BRONX” is what I shout.
steward@thepachecos.ws