Jacks

playing jacks on a sloped, granite slab

the eyes watching the jacks

bounce downward toward a cliff

the ball having preceded them

slow hands flipping

at the end of lazy arms

tiny suns sparkle from mica

uttered rainbows in childhood rhymes

the children fall through the air

far down to the bottom of this

following the game to its conclusion

children scattered like jacks

being picked up

by the handfulls

onesies twoies threesies

Barry G. Wick