Blossoms

Twelve and thirteen year old girls
tom-boy tough with braces and pig-tails,
hang out, chew gum and smoke cigarettes
on the corner of Wilson and Marlboro.

They speak a salty dialogue peppered
with four letter words, chattering about
the latest fab fad, who’s in and what’s
cool, what’s out and who’s a fool.

Still torn between hop-scotch and jump
rope, tight tee shirts and training bras,
they practice to be flirtatious and playful
suffering from pubescent pop-star infatuations.

These budding flowers wait to be plucked
by the high school boys, preppies,
greasers or jocks, driving fancy cars,
motorcycles and pick-up trucks.

An early spring can lead to a sultry summer.