End of Poetry Month

SNEAKING BACK THRUGH CHILDHOOD

A small finger--tracing the pattern
     On an Oriental rug,
     Around and down, and over,
          and under
And the pattern starts again,
     Repeats around the border,
     Over and over again.
Lamplight changes the colors of an
     Oriental rug,
     And tracing 'round the
           Patterned border is a
Different game. People watch and you
     Are important and
     It's lots more fun and
          It's past your bedtime.

GUTTER GAMES

When the rain stops, the gutters
     are full of water.
     Perfect ponds to float
            a clothespin sailboat,
Or fill a jug to empty
     and fill again
     until the sun mercilessly
     dries up the puddles
          and ends the game.