Bright Boy

The small t-shirt on his even smaller torso

says Look at the Bright Side.

Cocked to one side like a beret

rests a blue bicycle helmet.

He sits on top of a yellow truck,

feet pushing to move him forward

until a large step looms.

He stands,

legs on either side of the truck

and lifts.

Then looks around.

Lifts and looks around.

Lifts and looks around.

He swings one leg over the truck,

pulls down his shorts,

squats, and pees a child size puddle.

A man offers help to lift the truck,

but bright boy pushes him away.

He wipes his hands

across the front of his t-shirt.

Then with shiny eyes

hoists the truck at last

up the imposing step.

A silent fanfare rises inside.

How comfortably his t-shirt

sits upon his chest

while his blue helmet protects

the bright side of fresh sensibility.

First published in Pangolin Review May 8, 2019