Minnows

I grow sentimental thinking 

about minnows

swimming small in larger waters 

edging the depths

where death might wait 

for boys running

along shallow shores with nets and buckets

I grow sentimental thinking 

sentimental

things about the way a setting 

sun looms silence

over darkened waters 

where boys with nets

and buckets learned they were minnows swimming

thinking things are sentimental

 when boys enact

Death’s loving labor upon 

fish in ponds

like pawns pushing to become queens, 

devouring,

conquering innocence might be senseless,

but boys will be boys

and minnows will be prey.