Another year and the war would end
but on the day my friend Johnny died
the triangle of his flag hung looking 
over the city from his mom’s window.

The summer we were ten he stands in a sprinkler,
in his boxers (not really a swimsuit) with
the biggest grin because it’s vacation and
life is good and the ice man is coming and
we’ve got a dollar to share.

© Chagall 2106