Roger Jones

Late August, City Pool

Almost summer's end. The light different – lower – on the pool, though the joy-squeals of children and flash of bodies remain for a little longer.

They all move as if preserved in the Long Ago.

Soon the park staff will furl up the long heavy canvas slide down which thousands of children all summer have skittered down a thin skin of water and shot off limbs akimbo into the green river.

The tree rope's already still. The pool will be covered with leaves. The lifeguard will be off at college, writing a thousand words, "What I Did On Vacation."

October night
moonspark
off a windy lake