***

this rain
tastes like grass
like wormy earth
like a hot summer's day
a lifetime ago

like that day
we went to check
the river for
fishing nets
lurking and luring
down at the slimy bottom

and we widened
their tricking holes
with our wiry fingers

we skipped stones
by that spot
where the stream curves
heading west
to the wheat fields

mine always sank
but I pretended not
to care

we ate the unripe apricots
we stole
from our neighbor's tree

they made our mouths water
just like that sour gum
we liked so much

and we ran
home on dirty feet
with twigs
and bugs in our hair

while the rain chased us
down the winding paths
and tickled our wild
willow hearts