Summaland

i am a child born to the sun

my existence closely bordered by Memorial and Labor days

born to inflatable suburban swimming pools

to time off

to heat

to grilled hot dogs, chips and cherry Kool-Aid

to shorts and flip-flops

to Lord of the Flies set in a Catholic neighborhood

to liberal doses of Off

to Red Rover until the street lights came on

to swimming in Minnesota lakes

to Coppertone's coconut aroma

to linseed oil in my ball glove
to lightening bugs in a jar

to rhubarb sauce

i am never quite as me

outside the land that is Summer