Sitting circle,
waiting for his hand
to duck-duck-goose-me
knowing that he might
but there are
soooo many heads between us
soooo many heads to tap
soooo many heads to
tap lightly with fingertips
and he rounds the circle
DUCK DUCK
and he rounds the circle
DUCK DUCK
and I see rainbows in his hair
and water in his eyes
flexing my calves
with anticipation
DUCK
ready to jump
DUCK
ready to jump
DUCK
read to jump
because his palm is on my hair
warm and lingering
l i n g e r i n g
and it is almost off
and I am almost disappointed
gOoSe!
all elbows and knees, i stumble to start
but he is sure-footed and fast
our friends are a noisy blur, shouting
RUN RUN
and I want to run
my arms are open
like my smile
like my eyes are open
so I see when he looks back
slightly slowing, waiting
wanting me to catch him
wanting me
to catch him
and i want to keep panting
want to keep panting
want to
ruffle his sweet soft feathers.
What are your earliest memories of young love?