SUMMER

 

Shirtless
in morning heat
two boys
tassel corn hair
sun brown backs
set aside
fishing poles
prowl
stream edge
displacing
water smooth stones
from gravel resting spots.

Side-arming
across
membrane
skin
of river
stones
elliptical and flat
flare
lucent kisses
one
two
three times

from slow clear
hesitant
face of water
bulging
toward rocky narrows
and shoulder-slabs
of granite
to cataract its song.
Boys
without a nibble
since early morning
casting
shimmering
golden lures
twelve-year-olds
restless
edgy
uneasy with themselves
settle
silent and snappish
on salt and pepper
boulder
to watch
auburn slender girl

with bantam breasts
move down
tramped
and narrow path
from road above.
A woman’s voice
calls
and turning
smiling up
the girl waves
kicks off shoes
Just to cool my legs.

With new
hunger knots
beneath the skin
the boys stare
at uplifted skirt
and young girl’s
calves
slowly wading
deeper
into mysteries
of water
as she probes
gently
where to touch
the hard
wet smoothness
of the stones.