Belleville

In Belleville, today

will be another scorcher.

The  Chinese hookers are out

early, even before the steam rises,

the girls throwing water on each other

laughing as if it were a beach scene

as if life were as simple as 

vacances d'août   waves lapping the feet

of happy couples at sunset

around the corner, restôs still closed

but after the last long hot weekend

kids will be back to classes, women

walking their children to and fro

the safety of routine in peacetime,

 food on the table, minimums.

maximums.

on my block: commerce and the trade

that never closed,  a whir of sewing machines.

the women and their lone male companion

who spent the hot months making the red

dresses I spy from the window go on

as if oblivious to change and chain,
 happy perhaps for something

they have been spared

- miriam