POETRY Nancy Duci Denofio

Bananas

A yellow garage with
a padlock – foggy windows
near yellow tulips growing
in the garden –

Told to stay away from
the garage, and never get
too close to foggy windows.

Many times I tried to sneak
up close, but grandmother,
she had eyes – everywhere.

What – exactly was kept
inside, and kept a secret for
a life time?

And, why did we own a
garage, after all - no one
owned a car – back then.

Heard it once kept bananas
safe away from heat – for
the fruit man.

You told me –
and I remember.

You told me your father -
grandfather - had a job
working - for a fruit company –
worked - for the fruit man.

You told me –
and I remember.

But – you told me your
father – grandfather –
he was killed working –
for the fruit man,

The fruit men killed
him -
Did – your father –
grandfather –
kill – all of their bananas?

Nancy Duci Denofio