be home by dark

we used to go into the woods

down by

the water

and lift large stones

off the ground.

wanting to find snakes

burrowed in

the cool shade of dirt

and moss.

it was a strange thing

that children do.

testing the world of what

we're afraid of, 

of what we're told not to do.

climbing trees and walking

along the train

tracks, sniffing glue.