main street dusk folds
friday breathes on our sneakers
silence between us
too soft to name out loud
corner store lights buzz
like fireflies caught in glass
we point at cases
but never decide
tape deck heartbeats
press play, press pause, rewind love
mixtape ribbons curl
holding feelings we can’t spell
each song a secret
passed hand to hand like candy
plastic beads spin
clacking the sidewalk rhythm
rainbow sticker sky
too bright for grown-up eyes
saturday whispers
cartoon light on our knees
sleepover giggles
braided into night
neon scrunchies
tie up the ends of our hair
secret crush drifts
through the static of radio
pogs spin and clink
small coins of pretend war
tv glow hums
our whole world on a screen
roller rink lights
spin slow like a snow globe dream
scratched disk sings on
skipping but still in tune
lunchbox note tucked
bread crust and “see you soon”
that was our young
a hush we keep breathing
