Fragile Youth Poem by Katelyn Hinman

we shuffle home across the grainy sidewalk
shivering against the autumn chill as we do every afternoon
full backpacks and gaudy designer bags slung over our weary shoulders
as usual, i unwillingly overhear the conversation around me
the others casually debate the most tolerable slimfast flavor
chocolate isn't bad, but banana so will make you barf
chat idly and how they need to touch up their dark roots
i'm gonna go a shade blonder this time, whaddaya think?
and share indispensible shoplifting advice
if you put the lipgloss in your purse, the alarm won't go off on you

lost in conversation, they trudge ignorantly past the grade school
but i stop and contemplate the troupe of kindergartners
carefree and completely uninhibited
a chain-link fence enclosing them in their fluorescent plastic playground
they gleefully chase one another around the perimeter of the slide
eeeeeeeeeeee! you're it, no tagbacks!
show off their strings of food-coloring enhanced macaroni
look, i made a necklace and a bracelet for mommy
and pretend to be fearless jedi knights
you're luke skywalker so you have to kiss her! it's in the movie

despite their endless squeals of laughter and innocence
i wonder how long it will be before they are reckless teenagers
rash and insecure with pouty lips and arms akimbo
fingers down their throats or around their girlfriends' necks
they will shuffle home across the grainy sidewalk
shivering against the autumn chill
full backpacks and gaudy designer bags slung over their weary shoulders
i wonder how long it will be until they are where i am now
leaning against the rickety chain-link fence
pondering the fragile youth it surrounds