History of a Boring Town

Summer days  spent
in someone’s parents’ backyard.
                                       Truth
                                            or Dare.
                                       Justin and Chris
                                   dared to kiss
                            Mark runs in the street
                     in his underwear.
        Out of everyone here
whose parent would you make out with?


                                                                                   …








      
                                                  







                                                                                   …

Mark and Justin sprint
     into the back yard
     spray paint cans rattle
     in their backpacks.
Duck
     down
behind the porch railing.
We watch a police car drive
                                slowly
                                        down the street.

                                                                                   …









                                                                                  …

Summer nights
spent in someone’s
         parents’ backyard –

                we shout through humid air
                            bare feet slip
                                        on dewy lawns
                and dilapidated Converse
                           slap against pavement –
                                                                 
                                                 we race forward
                                                             into the night and past the morning –
The girls play
the color game :
Mandy chants : red : red :
green : green
in time with clapping hands
Sharon returns : green : green :
black : black
                    I break                 
                                                          black : black : blue :                 
                                                                                      bl… Dave       
                                                       tackles me, shoves clumps             
                                        of grass down my tank top. Stop                 
                                      this ridiculous game, it’s stupid.                     
                                          Stupid?                                                          
                                       I chase him around the yard.                         
















Mike and Chris stop by with
gifts for everyone:
roses and paintings
records and books.
Slightly soiled
treasures
they found
   dumpster diving.