THE ICEMAN’S HELPER
New York childhood recounted through basso profundo vocals
and bellwether eyes, silver-blue forecasters of tone
iceman’s helper
up and down
high horse-drawn wagon
wiry Barese boy heaving bulky blocs on boney shoulders
lugging ice for pennies
decades later, you joke how your father sold you with the route
fostering an imperious victory garden
new owner hands you a border spade
‘Vito, load manure along the route’
a nine-year-old unwilling to shovel anybody else’s shit
you deliver ice and an emphatic NO
immigrant father, Brooklyn born mother
every inch the stout salt and pepper shakers
collecting into their polished curio cabinet
store pride in sepia smiles
this tall pepper mill son rising in a new world of possibilities
AM Roselli is a writer and artist living in Hudson Valley, New York. Her illustrated poetry, Love of the Monster, was published in 2016. Her writing has appeared in The Stillwater Review, Literary Mama, Better Than Starbucks, Barren Magazine, 5×5 Journal, and Cagibi. Her art was featured in the A3 Review and Emerge Gallery, Saugerties, NY. You can access her website here.
OVUNQUE SIAMO 