All Summer

We climbed through storm drains
Thick with summer air and rain

We held hands and waited for
The scarred nightmares that waited for us
Around every corner
Of the roughly hewn labyrinth
Though all we ever really heard was
The soft rush of the cars overhead

We boosted each other up
And peered through rusted grates
To watch them screaming by all day
Our feet drinking in the soft hum
Of the motors

We were storm drain spelunkers that
Lost their bravery and
Cried out in quiet horror as the
Warm patches of daylight
That played in the tunnel
Faded and the concrete walls became
Cold

We never spoke of it
But you cried
And I cried
That day
Until we stumbled into the last light
That just illuminated
Your mom staring accusingly
At our dirty faces
And dirty clothes
And the clean patches that were
Left when we scrubbed away
the tears