Those Summer Days

“In or out?” we had to choose, mother said

that we had to make up our minds. We chose

to go outside and run around instead,

and spray each other with the garden hose.

“In or out?” mother said we had to make

a choice. We went outside and got into

the black, hollowed out plastic pipe, we ached

to take a roll, and when we did, we flew.

“In or out?” mother asked us to decide.

We went down to the woods to build a fort

made out of sticks and stones from the creek. I

loved playing with my brothers, my cohorts.

Those memories are never far away.

I often think about those summer days.