The small boy
wanders away
in an outfit of his own choosing,
dinosaur tee and checkered shorts,
and leans down
to examine a little yellow flower.

Knees to chest,
he crouches
so close,
that his muddy cheek
gleams gold,
and he grins.

Suddenly

A recognizable rubber sole hovers
for just a second.
The laces tide neatly,
he watches them bounce,
as the shoe falls upon the flower.
His eyes travel up the leg
to meet his mother’s.

Pulling him up by one arm,
her nervous fingers squeeze
too tight.
Marching him forward,
she admonishes his carelessness.
Wishing he’d paid more attention,
he cranes his neck back
to mourn
the little yellow corpse.