i don't live
in a neighborhood
Ms.
he says insisting
nothing happens
on my
street
this thick city
boy
uniformed
scrubbed
polished
& sent to school
his black hair stiffened
stands at attention
his head is hurting
(i am sure)
from too much
sitting still
~
i lean into
his round face
willing words
his
imagination
—a phantom—
~
how many of you
have
ever made
mud pies
between your toes
a few hands rise
—confessing
actual play
outside
turn on the hose
make mud
they giggle
~
my toes flex
stretch their necks
i am standing
knee deep
in rain water
this sky wiping its eyes
dim
thunder rumbling
we have all
come outside
waving—squawking birds
converging on a makeshift lake
water running to greet us
we wade in
~
~
a few fat drops
hit shower us wet
—cold clothes
cling barefoot toes
stomp
splash
sing in the street
—rain dance
—glee club
goose bumps
~
~
i squat squish mud
between my toes
shovel up a clump
—oozing earth
fling it
at the first (unsuspecting)
one of us
a burst of laughter
—splat—
a flinched face
—splat—
an arched back
i got you!
~
~
we are merciless
warriors taking aim
duck
dive
slip
slide
run
from each other
like we might really
die
in seconds
an hour passes
~
my breath
comes fast
i am full
of fun
& covered
in baking clay
~
~
lying down
on long green
grass in the
gutter
bent under
this sudden stream
fresh water
—wash
me clean
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