Ode To Summer

We sat inside
A quiet night
trying to conquer Mario Galaxy
Oh, what nobleness

Come, she said
We are going on an adventure.


Where?
Where are we going?
What?
Where?
The expected replies.

You'll see.
Just come.
We're going on an adventure.

Jumped up the steps,
grabbed our shoes,
here we go.

Grab some chalk.

Okay. Lets go.

In the darkness
we run across the street.
Feet flying, where, oh where, are we going?
Take me somewhere.

Lets draw.
Legal grafiti
along the sidewalks
as we go.
Waves of blue here,
pink fish,
smiling face.

Friend's driveway.
Hey Brandon,
Tom's Cool!,
face with mustache,
Welcome Home.

Preist's house.
Hi Father,
scribbled in heart,
more smiling faces.

Across the street, and to the church.
Cross in green,
LOVE,
and, what was it, Riley,
that you have drawn?

Guitar Teacher's house.
Hi Arnold,
big guitar.

And finally, to the school.
Do we love it?
No.

Run, run.
Across this blacktop you have known.
Tetherballs: don't get hit in the face.
Fake a lay-up at the basketball hoop.
Onto the playground.

I'd forgotten how big it was.
Down the slide into the sand.
You're it!
Tag.

Finally, quiet.
Except the creaky swing.
My swing.
Only now the faded blue is
cheap red plastic.
But it is still mine.
Enveloped in the light of a street lamp.
Like the lonely swing it is.