Paused and protected in my car
at the red light, I delight at the jolt
of a sharp flash:  a seven-year-old
bright as a crack of lightning leaping,
dodging raindrops, their track-suited
parent close by like a god of thunder
chasing its progeny into the arena
of regimented thrusts, kicks, and shouts
that all little gods love to learn.
​​Denise Alden lives and writes on occupied Dakota territory, now known as the Twin Cities.  Some of her work can be found at Scalawag Magazine, Metafore Magazine, and forthcoming in Dear Vaccine.
image: rodnae productions via pexels