Respite

I watched four young
Black men
playing alone in a small
White hotel pool.
They were clearly
something-teen, twenty tops,
taking a respite
from college and exams,
judgment and assumptions
of a sometimes hostile public,

game face down

at the front end of their lives.
Relaxing happy music
colored the background.
Abruptly, one closed his eyes and said,
“Marco-”
The others moved away saying,
“Polo!”

The one who had blinded himself
swam towards the others
following the sound
of familiar voices

His friends

laughed as he got closer
swimming away.
When he cornered
one of them
there was a splash
as he lunged
forward
tagging the next
who closed his eyes
and said, “Marco-“

No betrayals.

No accusations
of cheating,
peeking through
the unclosed eye,
behind another man’s back
to ambush him
unexpectedly

Total honesty
was assumed by all
and trust

for a brief moment
at the front end of their lives
on a sunny day
without a care
in the world.

© 2015 A.L. Freeman