Almost Twelve

by Angela Cerrito

Today we found a fort
beside the river
You rushed to explore
I asked if you thought it
was the work of teenagers
“No, someone old made this,”
you said
poking your head out
"There’s a smoking pipe
from the olden days
inside
the kind with a water bowl.”
You tugged off your shoes
and eyed the water
“Whoever it is, must be
Over fifty,”
You concluded
“No one smokes with those
Anymore.”
I watched you leap
from rock to rock
and realized
that I am standing
On a bridge
and treading water
at the same time
I don’t regret
that your discovery
didn’t lead us to
another talk about drugs
I love this moment
and the possibility
that a bong
could really be
an ancient relic
from another time
It is such a
short bridge
before us
from almost twelve
to teenager
and I want
to pay close attention
and cherish
every step.