so surprising?
we gravitate
towards the familiar
seek our old selves
among the new
faces we can’t quite place
this metropolitan borough
its working class citizens
seemingly picked up
relocated with us to the big city

what’s in a corner store
with a letter missing?
or bowling alley
needing fresh paint?
that brings a friendly longing
postwar homes
where the heart’s always been

not ours anymore
we’re suburbanites now
where one prefab
resembles the next
pavement clean enough
to eat from
landscaped trees
barely more than twigs

a step up we’re thankful for
though a trip downtown
is all it takes
and we’re home again

© 2000 Chris Sorrenti

Link to Chris Sorrenti's website: 
http://members.rogers.com/tomcat7/chrisplace/