bathing bare on the river <br />the kids of the neighborhood <br />they have never seen <br />the crocodile <br /> <br />and then the go home <br />together <br />spreading laughter <br />along the path of mud <br />beside the <br />wild flowers <br /> <br />they pass upon a forest <br />and climbs some trees <br />tease the monkeys <br />and gather the ripe berries <br />and imitate the wings <br />of black birds <br /> <br />the chase each other <br />without the numbers <br />never mind their shadows <br />until it gets dark <br /> <br />and then they are home again <br />their mothers singing songs <br />their fathers telling stories <br />about how the tigers roar<br /><br />RIC S. BASTASA<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/the-sound-images-of-innocence/
