Hopscotch

Hopscotch

I was never too hot

on hopscotch.

I was rather more interested

in walking, one

foot in front of the other foot

like a fox, or reading,

or in any other damn thing

that didn’t involve hopping.

I never got the rules.

I couldn’t throw the stone,

or gauge the distance

with half closed eye

like the girl in 4Y.

I scowled at the game.

Sat instead and read a book,

hiding the grey secrets of my home.