Killing Time - July 10 2023

 

Killing Time

July 10 2023

Nothing to do

we complained

in the golden haze

of summer vacation

killing time.

Back when we made our own fun,

and long unstructured days

stretched out ahead

like a country road

that goes who-knows-where,

receding into the distance

and baking in the sun;

soft tar

too hot to touch,

waves of heat

boiling off

its black asphalt surface.

We hung out,

loitering on a dusty curb

and idly tossing stones

nowhere in particular,

riding our bikes

to the corner store

for a frozen treat

that melted in our hands.

Pick-up ball

on sunburnt diamonds

of hard-packed dirt

and weedy grass.

Matinees

in the cool dark,

a mildewed basement

playing cards.

So we managed to amuse ourselves,

until even school

was secretly looked forward to.

And I think now

about endless days

and killing time

and having nothing on my schedule.

Now

when time is so precious

it never weighs heavily.

And so short

I can feel the chill

as day turns to dusk

and night begins to fall.