Leaf

I am ten
Cutting weeds
In the yard swinging
A serrated edge blade
On a hot summer day in
My jeans and tennis shoes
Perspiring thinking of the cool
Public swimming pool across town
Which we will go to mid afternoon
But first we’ll stop at the church
Basement on some errand and
I have a quarter in my pocket
For an almost frozen Doctor
Pepper to chug down then
A short drive with my Dad
To dive into the deep end
Of the pool to swim as
Far as I can under the
Water dodging teens
Bobbing in the cool
Water as the life
Guard blows his
Whistle Moms
Peer about
For their
Kids, I
Am a
Leaf
In the
Watery
Wind free
Flying, eyes red
With burning chlorine
Until dark closes
The pool and
Lights out.