Initialize

The playground looms above me
mid day pleasures of simple joy
friends dangling down side up
off the jungle gym framework

Short staircases invert as rowboats
red then yellow then red again
sand gritty and coarse surrounds
the grass patch with resident oak

High noon at the ok id corral
last roundup for milk ‘n cookies
chocolate is good when you’re hot
the rush of youth slows its tempo

Our cots lounge across the room
green and silver folding out tight
low gray ceiling above cool floor
smoke drifts around teacher’s eyes

We pour into the yard frenzied
to get on the teeter-totter first
beaten out the swing will do fine
someone cries aloud “not fair!”

Mom comes when it cools down
sissies run to clutch her legs
the car ride is better going home
and i enjoy being.