Published on: 1/3/2011
Sending the Boys Outside to Play

Sending the Boys Outside to Play
Is like slipping a porcelain teacup
round the older's neck on a silken
cord, saying run, play basketball,
roll around in the mud with your friends,
race on bikes or feet or tree limbs
but please, please don't
break, lose in the river or tall grass
this treasure I am sharing
with you, it belongs to you as much
as the tiny hand pressed in yours,
bound firmly in sweat and tears and blood.