Don’t go under trees they said, but
the way from school was banked with chestnuts.
Only the ghost path
crossing the cemetery was bare.
My heart was in my lunch bag.
I was the fastest boy, but
don’t run they said.
And the clouds were bubbling
black, dark. I thought
they meant business.
A strange dog was drinking from a puddle.
I knew he meant to bite, until
at last I couldn’t resist.
I ran in open spaces
and under trees
I ran under dark and dangerous clouds.
I ran all the way home and stood under the carport
until my sister came home with the key.
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