Ants

Small town quiet street
Dawn just breaking
Mourning dove cooing.

Young boy at the curb in the sand
Playing with ants watching
Oh how they scurry
My how they run with incredible intent
Wow how fascinating.

Grandma calls breaking the sanguine mood
“Breakfast! Come quick! Now!”
She sounds mad
Like usual.

Slowly he stands brushing off grit
Reluctant to leave
“Goodbye,” he says to his new friends. “See you later.”
He tarries a moment listening
Then he smiles
He’s right
He thought so
They’re telling him to hurry back
“I will as soon as I can,” he tells them.
“I promise.”