i would watch in amazement 

as large shipment of clothes

transported to alexander's 

the ghetto macy's of my time

the smell of fresh icy's on the corner

of grand concourse and fordham road

fordham road

with its two for one prices

where an older latino husband and latina wife

were ready to bargain

a two for one price with you

where cologne and perfume were wrapped

in plastic with price sticker was

paste in the front

that is screaming to buy me so i can spray you

like a real man 

and women will go crazy looking for you

fordham road

pushing carts

brown paper bags

the alexander blue and white shopping bags

mothers and grandmothers yelling

at their children

to pipe down while arguing about 

buying another item and persuading

the vendor to a three for one deal

fordham road

the central community in the bronx

where you save more money than midtown

where father's and son's shoestore was popular

to buy dress shoes

people that were long forgotten remembered

where bochinces started and ended

where colorful candles were bought to ward off evil

bringing good luck

or keeping that man or woman in your life

fordham road

the place where humanity met to stand up to corruption

and embrace the gift of life