Last year’s rubber boots too small now,
yet still hold the memory of you jumping in puddles
as I lost a staring contest with a grey sky-
my eyes expecting lightning,
but instead there was thunder, warning me
how one day you won’t find fun in splashing,
and I listened well enough to pretend I heard nothing.
Richard LeDue (he/him) is the author of eight books of poetry. His work has appeared in the Eunioa Review, Neologism Poetry Journal, Duck Duck Mongoose, and other publications, both online and in print. His latest book, “Secondhand Salvation,” was released from Alien Buddha Press in February 2023.