Why did he promise me br that we would build ourselves br an ark all by ourselves br out in back of the house br on New York Avenue br in Union City New Jersey br to the singing of the streetcars br after the story br of Noah whom nobody br believed about the waters br that would rise over everything br when I told my father br I wanted us to build br an ark of our own there br in the back yard under br the kitchen could we do that br he told me that we could br I want to I said and will we br he promised me that we would br why did he promise that br I wanted us to start then br nobody will believe us br I said that we are building br an ark because the rains br are coming and that was true br nobody ever believed br we would build an ark there br nobody would believe br that the waters were comingbr br William Stanley Merwinbr br