The air is cool and inviting 
The mosquitoes suck at my succulent skin 
Rejoicing at the soft and limber limbs 
I possess 
Streetlights illuminate my smile 
As I witness a young child snoozing in a stroller
Music is faintly heard from other homes 
As food to nourish a familial soul 
Festers within ovens and stoves 
The soft crackle of tires roll
Down the street and over countless potholes 
Everyone rushing to get home 
The steady drip drip drop 
Of AC water 
Plummets onto the sidewalk from 3 stories up 
As a mother wipes the sweat from her brow 
And caresses her child for a goodnight kiss 
Men are heard howling 
As five crash against the ground 
Women sucking their teeth 
Ignoring catcalls and vulgar invitations 
Phone calls into the early morning 
As cackling laughter is distinctly heard 
While a young goddess sits on the stoop
And weaves love and forgiveness 
Into her boyfriends hair
In the form of cornrows 
Each block its own community 
A cornucopia of 
acceptance, invitation, skepticism, optimism 
Curiosity, and reciprocity 
Year-round I long for these long Brooklyn nights
The summer sun retiring from my weary bones
Until tomorrow 
Thank you Brooklyn 
I love your soul