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Sunday Afternoon
Pedal hard, hard as you can,
right down the hill, right for the river,
right through the grasses and bushes and grapevines
that hug the edge, line the bank,
and cushion the fifteen-foot fall
to the bottom of the water.
Wheels, wheels, turning and turning past branches and leaves and
honeysuckle, honeysuckle,
smell of honey, sweet,
sharp squares of sun, hot through the trees,
smiling and smiling, turning and turning,
right for the river,
over the edge
of the warmth and the light,
into the water,
chilly and deaf, it runs in the ears,
plunge, sink, like lead in a bathtub
eyes closed ears full hair heavy skin cold air gone hit bottom sail
up break through the surface gasping breathing gasping breathing
and breathing, and breathing,
and dripping
the air is bright and clear, the sun, sweet and warm
Rachel Blumenthal , Age 18
Chamblee Charter School
Chamblee, Georgia
Teacher: Diane Lynn Farmer
