Safehouse

Sweltering heat
escapes in waves
from the blacktop kingdoms
of tough little boys
who sit in church,
listen to their priest,
and carry guns when they get older.

Brave souls to play tag
in streets where men
die every day for their
vices and flaws,
or for no reason at all.

Time stands still for those
hours when the summer sun
shines and dries water
from burned skin.

Laughter echoes down alleys,
reverberates through memories,
casts out demons from their safehouse
to keep boys, boys
for a moment or two longer.