I wait in my car, and espy three boys at play
in their paved and treeless fenced world
beyond this parking lot, power pedaling
their toy cars out of sight and back
to my delight, to park in parallel lines,
unaware of their own comic antics
and even more, of how near they emulate
and duplicate the grown-ups
they will one sudden morning be.
And I, without intent, break covenant
with quietude of thought
and laugh out loud. Their play stops
three faces turn toward the sound
and press against the chain-linked fence
that fuses our two worlds in this moment.
I wave at them, start the car
and drive away. Three boys scuttle off
jump into three parallel-parked cars,
and revive their simulated play.
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Beautiful! The poem uses elegant language and imigary to describe the children at play. I, as a teenager, am just beginning to understand what it is to stifle ones cries of laughter and of tears; it becomes harder, often, to remember what it was to play lets pretend, with no fear or shame. I used to run barefoot, and recieve many stares, but it never bothered me; now, my feet are soft from lack of exposure to the earth. Thanks for reminding me what it was to be free.
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