the boy

No doubt he was  actually shy
His GAWKINESS MASKED by bravado
His mood made JOVIAL by an adolescent state of mind
BRAINWASHED by his peers,
PROTECTED from his natural fear
He approached  her  effervescent beauty
"Your beauty blinds me" he blurted,
His  voice, his manner, ADMITTEDLY OVERWOUND
No doubt she thought it was a SHOVELFUL, so
Turning away, she could only join the FESTIVAL of fantasies in his mind

ROLLER SKATES

I remember the sound of the skates
Metal clanking, leather straps
The special key,used to squeeze the foot just right
Worn around the neck, swinging as I glided down the sidewalk
Magical afternoons, until the inevitable fall
Hopefully, my throbbing knees not too far from home,
No, you can't wear your sandals to skate, she said,
But , of course you can, if you are willing
To twist an ankle, scrap a toe,
Laugh when it hurts.