danger

children ignore the signs; hang

from branches over ice cold water then

drop, immortal,

plunging into darkness, eyes shut tight,

gasp, hearts stop; push,

bodies break the surface. this

is unbelievable. scramble for the bank;

the echo of screams dying only now,

rush to do it all again...

expect someone to die now.

we’ve heard this, how someone got caught,

their foot

entangled. they drown or fall,

        and we,

warned. still the thrill of cheating death

remains alive

right now i’m on my roof,

               ready to leap.