diving for pennies

we used to dive
for pennies in the deep end.
our ears would
pop,
and our lungs nearly
burst
as we grabbed the grate
at the bottom,
feeling
with our small hands
for that little brown
dot, blurry
in the chlorine water.
what else was there to do?
we were too young
to think
about sunbathing
and staring at girls
on the rubber strapped
lawn chairs,
lathered in coconut oil.
that would come next
summer.
but for now diving for
pennies
was enough.