A black body
a slight black body
the body of a ten
year old boy
dipping into the water
of a pool on a crackling
hot summer day
the pool is cool
more than cool
it’s ice cold
the way its element
licks at his bones
on first stepping in
the way it greets his
skin with a grin
that is devilish
unkind and unthinking
picture the boy
dipping his slender limbs into
the pool
tipping down the steps
slow like a monumental
act the way he is walking
preparing to dip his body in
to baptize the water with
his body
and it’s not like
it’s that important
it’s not like
it’s that big a
deal but the boy
feels waves part
bodies stop mid
stroke to look
watch flee
like ducks on the
table top of the water
when you enter
how suddenly
they disperse
mid-stream
the boy‘s senses alert
after ten years of living
feels sees
in advance that this
is how
it will
be
Still he advances
placing one slim
featherweight foot
in front of the other
the skin thin
refined and aching
so soft and pliable
it is
a sin
anyone can see
then the other
the boy advances
down the step
a dip a toe
a momentary squall
time temporarily suspended
as the foot
held aloft
descends
an ankle
now the shin
up to the knee
he advances
trepidatiously
No one applauds
his courage
no one sings
songs of praise
the wisp thin
frailty of his body
is not
seen
Still that boy
advances
despite the ducks
on…
