Girls Bunching Up to the Starting Line

an immense flock
of middle school girls.
Bang!
They all start like
spooked horses,
then bolt quickly
toward the unseen
finish line.
 
Along the wooded
trail a group
of gasping girls.
I've found my rhythm,
and I race myself,
trying to edge ahead
of the shadow in the
patches of light
falling from the trees
 
down through the
victory chute with
its joyful pennants
flapping me hellos
in red, blue, and
yellow.
 
 
Karina Bursch