June 28*

hottest day of the year                          thus far lummi kids
might have hit 80                                  splatter in water
sticky, hot, been in town                      off the ferry dock

i go to the beach
to wade, to cool
my soft winter feet
prickled and tickled by the gravel

aaugh!
cold water aches to the bone
travels up, clasps my heart in hard grip
i back out, yelping

. . . . .
*Copyright 2010 by Luther Allen. This poem appears in The View from Lummi Island.