Dust

Fall’s wind blew children

Like leaves everywhere

Yells, running, bells, slowly

Falling too a rustling whisper

Teacher stood, a boy

Unsure beside him

Evaluating: jocks, nerds,

Boys, girls, who was cool?

He tried on friends,

Exploring, yes, no,

Maybe, head shaking

Until yes.

The wind pushed him

A girl who was nice

When he was not,

The wind pushed them together

The wind pushed clock hands

Leaf jumping, snowball fights,

Inside, outside, in-between,

Dust in the attic, mud pies

Sand castles

Super heroes, saving the world,

Monkey bars, tire swings, bullies,

Nothing stopped the wind

behind the girl and boy

laughing, walking, talking,

rumors nor lies disturbed them

every day snow or rain

they walked home, him

first, her after

constant wind each day,

no changes, no need. Just

gliding wind smooth on the face

everyday warmer

Dry summer wind meets them

Walking, laughing, a pause

Slap!

He walks home, wind

Pushing him. She stands

cheek burning, eyes stinging

No movement, no thought

The wind rushes by, blowing

Apart sand castles, mud pies,

Friendships…

Into dust.