High Hopes and Jump Ropes
The cold air rushes past my skin
Young and frail, but strong.
It is about 4:00 as the twelve of us
Gather around the tree.
We pick up our ropes and start
Warming up with a double cross.
Over, under; Over, under.
Coach comes out and we scramble
To the biggest rope of them all
And the game begins.
One by one we hop in
Using our short legs to jump as high as possible.
Eight down, four to go.
Then the twins both go out
At the same time.
I turn and face my opponent,
My own ghost.
