Ricky

Ricky moved into a new house

built on an old grass landing strip

of Shambaugh Airport

Three years older

than everyone in 4th grade

he’d chase me home from school

One day, I ran into our house

home early, Dad made me

go back out and fight

Ricky put me in a headlock

I bit him under his arm

until I tasted blood

I wonder what became of Ricky

and why airports have landing strips

when you cannot land until you fly

9-7-20