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Our poet writes: Hello! My name is Kassidy Butt and I am a junior at Endicott College with a major in English and a concentration in Secondary Education. I have lived in Massachusetts my whole life with my mom, dad, sister, and two dogs! Writing is something I have always had a passion for and I cannot wait to become an English teacher one day!

Kassidy Butt

This is Boston

This is Boston.
The Citgo sign on 660 Beacon Street lighting up in the distance
Bright red, white, and blue lights color the walkway
Seeing it time and time again as walking towards Fenway and somehow
she never gets old
Her old triangle outline
for all of Back Bay to see if looking from the correct angle
She is double faced overlooking Kenmore Square
When you see her
You know you are close to the park
She is beautiful.

The smell of sausage peppers and onions filling the air
A distinctive smell that lets you know you are entering the park
The kind of smell that you can still smell at midnight even after changing your clothes and taking a shower
Fenway Franks that are freshly steamed in the hands of most
Ketchup and mustard covering the top and smeared in the bun
Sweet cold vanilla and chocolate ice cream swirled into a Red Sox souvenir helmet in the hands of little ones
As the other hand holds their mother’s hand
Reminding one to enjoy their life before it melts away
As melted soft serve is dripping down the hands of a four year old
Even though she has not stopped to inhale once
And her mother has wiped her hands and face numerous times
Life is short
Do not let your life melt away
no matter how messy it may get.

Touching hands during the seventh inning stretch
Greasy hands reaching out
Screaming Sweet Caroline by Neil Diamond
What everyone looks forward to when they go to Fenway
Especially when the game becomes boring
Everyone at that moment becomes family
Becomes equal
Skin color
and
Race
Do not matter
Everyone is singing, holding, and loving
Beers spilling
Time passing
Before you know it the team is back on the field
You remain seated
But do not stop dancing
And your adrenaline is rushing and throat is hoarse from cheering and singing
Let’s go Red Sox echoing through Kenmore Square.
My blue jeans with a few rips at the knee and fringe at the bottom covered in peanuts shavings
A Camouflage ball cap visor in my peripheral vision when watching Devers knock it out of the park
And a denim jacket covered with bedazzled Red Sox patches covering my arms
Smiling from ear to ear for a picture to send my mother
Taking more than one because it is blurry from the stadium lights 
On top of
My fathers photography of course.

The sound of music filling the air
People with their jerseys and ball caps
Walking down the street
Chanting Yankees Suck
Celebrating the win
People rushing to get into the train station
Lining along the staircase
Even though the train has not arrived
This is Boston.

— Kassidy Butt