PLENGE’S FARM

Belleville, N.J.

At the swampy river bend
of Plenge’s peach tree orchards
the kids splashed buck-naked
in the makeshift camp
they carved in the woods
Birds, too, sought sanctuary,
flying carefree,
drinking among the reeds.
Upstream the kids watched
the water for red or blue dye
from the Bloomfield ink plant.
Fat muskrats lived on the banks
and fish floated among the rocks.
Swashbucklers swooped in to steal
the skinny dippers’ clothes
who waited ‘til nearly midnight
to slither home naked

- By Anthony Buccino
from SIXTEEN INCHES ON CENTER
Copyright © 2010 by Anthony Buccino, all rights reserved.