Footfalls

Thump-thump, thump-thump
bare feet hitting the grass
as I run run run
in the air and like the air
weaving through the trees
skimming over the ground

touching down
thump-thump, thump-thump
here and there
there and here
in the soft damp grass

thump-thump, thump-thump
knowing I could fly fly fly
but letting my feet
thump-thump, thump-thump

touch the earth

at least for now . . .

Excerpted from HEARTBEAT © Copyright 2004 by Sharon Creech. Reprinted with permission by Joanna Cotler Books/HarperCollins. All rights reserved.