stepping along the street
kicking pebbles
through imaginary goal-posts;
unaware the world is
so big, yet i look
to the sky in search
of its visible boundaries.
faces wisp in and out of
clouds cheering each score.

riding life one day--
and city block--
at a time;
training wheels attached.
speeding forward, adulthood seems
just across town.
wanting the answers adults have, and
running from childhood like the stranger
you never get used to; forgetting to
leave an open door for
a return trip.

time fleets by
like waves scared by a rock thrown
into a silent pond, and the days
fall away. i scrape their edges
with the strength of my cracked, bare
hands--caging time to keep it
from slipping out.

*unfinished verse