Puddle Jumpers

by Jeffrey Miller

Beneath gray skies
when spring rains fall—
bulbous drops slide off
bright yellow rain slickers
cascade down pants
tucked into rubber boots.

We skip and run across
rain slicked streets and
playgrounds of our youth—
jumping across puddles
defying gravity in our
ascent and sudden,
but not splashed landing.

With youthful bravado
we turn and smile,
“Come on, you can do it.”