the air tastes fresh
like
ripe strawberries, and clean things, laundry detergent
fresh-squeezed lemonade, sun-warmed swings

soft, so still,
the world so sleepy

feeling like if you screamed, houses would
shatter

running down the driveway just to feel the wind in your hair,
your shadow sprinting after you, calling, panting, "wait up!"

and you have never

felt
more

*alive