the makeshift man

young peter pan, he stood by my bed
he said,
"it’s tuesday and my lost boys are somewhere
under your pillows"

i think i know what he means

my shoulders itch in the place where the wings used to be
and there are white sails on my feet
they are telling me to go out into the ocean
and play make-believe
but i said,
"i can’t swim, you see"

i think he knows what i mean

the lost boys are somewhere under the blankets
(not under the pillows, as children may expect)
he said,
"but i am not a child
only a wingless bird
with white skin for feathers"

yes, young peter pan has white skin
soft
smooth
fresh
freckled
except on his right hand
where he grasps his sword and goes off to war

i rode north at 8:06 AM 4 kph