THE POOL

The Portal.   

Out the doors - we've already dropped the bags -

into the afternoon, through the high gate

(NO LIFEGUARD ON DUTY)

to an undisturbed cool turquoise treat

of the mid-century mid-west middle-class,

the outdoor, inground

pool.

And all to ourselves!!

This one ringed by

empty chaise lounges with faded plastic strapping 

and sad empty planters standing attention.

Some sort of faded tune from... somewhere.

there must be at least one other guest here

"Holy mother of.... it's FREEZING!"

And then the goal comes back to us,  

real quick.

Chasing the spots warmed by the sun

and counting the seconds til it emerges from that cloud patch,

("are you gonna go under? I am")

Laughing, dodging the dead bugs,

retrieving dead times 

to play with for a moment

"yeah? Well, MY parents took US to..."

FLORIDAGEORGIAVIRGINIASMOKEYMOUNTAINSWISCONSIN

etc.

that still linger just below the surface, 

in childhood's watery memories.  

(and no Band-aids in the pool this time! Yay!)