8 years old again;
flip flopped feet
hitting the cobblestone
laid down
some 100 years ago
as i run
free
long hair
streaming behind me
baby kids
chasing me
as we all scream
"adios cochroaches; see you in hell"
and we laugh
and they catch their breath
on the backs of my knees
while we drink water out of gifted bottles
holding it
two hands style
i swung my arms so fast
and my legs so fast
and recognized the faint
of my soul
lagging in the mirror
its these moments
that i curiously wonder
if my time is more limited than i could ever imagine
because there is no reason
the summer gods
would still be nice to me
despite the billboard on the northeast extension
that clearly reads
that my sin will be catching up to me
i see it
every time
i drive
to kiss the lips, hips, knuckles
of someone as soft as me.
and it makes me choke back
a cough
tears
and the desire to fall apart underneath it
the little girl
climbs to my arms
and asks for a backride
and i assume grown up status again
she whispers that im pretty
and her brother,
curled hair and broad nose,
barrel chested and pigeon toed,
grabs my hand
and we walk.
