Not the Same Game

The park still breathes in past the light. A swing remembers my weight just

right. The rusted gate. The slide I tried. My shoes are

torn. My hands are bare. Dust on my knees.

A summer scar. Everything close, yet strangely far. I count my steps.

A reckless kid. I run too fast. I miss my ground.

The laugh I had never makes a sound. Like time forgot the way to

go. I fall the way I did before. Same old place,

not the same game. The ground knew more than I dare.