Sandbox love affairs
on playgrounds with truth and dare.
Grown men prowl like shattered glass,
the word love splashed among sidewalk cracks.

Chalk, swings, tic tac toe.
No one could ever hurt a rubber band boy.
Glue, that’s you, attracting glass,
Like bees to honey,
Or the trees to the breeze.

Teachers are the protectors,
the watchers, but distracted by a student kept after class,
for math,
1, 2, 3.

4 + 5 equals you and me,
I’m hurt,
I cry.
A cut down my thigh,
No one around is much surprised.
They knew I caught the glasses eye,
Man, trunk,  sexual position, lies, tape, videos.
Screams, fear, children, SILENCE… another sandbox love affair.