a blow up pool
with water and feet in it
is what I remember from that day
and the bits of grass in the pool
and the sun
shining on me in a way
that I took personal
like it was more violent to me than it was
to the girl across the yard
with the knuckle tattoos
too far away for me to read of course
not a single hand shake all year
not a single comment
on the softness of my palms
but the feet underwater
they touch the same