The hand that holds
the coke can glistens
sparkles
in the summer sun

the sweat
kissing the golden
semi-brown
skin
crinkles
and forms
caught in the folds
of early summer tan
and shines
iridescent
like

eleven, twelve, thirteen
stars

I've watched you grow up
grow old
grow bold
; the dawn of adolescence is upon you

The hand that grasps
the vitamin water shines
slick
in the summer sun

the sweat
circles
the patterned skin and
creeps
slips
into the old comfort
of elbow crook,
nestling in the new
inked blue
tattoo
skin
sighing into early summer tan
shining like

fourteen, fifteen, sixteen
stars

I've watched you grow up
grow bold
grow old
older than you are
; the sunset of summer
-bye to swings
flings
rubber rings-
the sunset of (our) summer
is upon you