Bright plastic colors
stand out sharply
from the earthy brown and greens.
They don’t blend in
cleanly to the forest
foliage. Faded from the
sun, slightly sunken
into the ground
with age, the playground
hides in the shadows,
yearning for new faces
and fresh excitement.
But when the wind
blows, the old structure
shudders and groans,
whispering of ghosts
of children past.