The Kiteman

by Sofi Papamarko

A huddled group of children
Go over their game plan.
It is my turn.
Whispered warnings echo
In my head.
I ignore them and
Walk to him.

Under the shadow of a baseball cap
His stubbled face is set
In intense concentration,
As if flying a kite were the hardest thing
In the world to do.

I am less than a yard away from him now.
He sees me
And utters a friendly "Hullo!"
His voice startles me
So I run and am met
By the cheers of the other children.

This was our game.

Now I wonder how he felt
Being approached,
And taunted,
And feared.
I wonder if his kite was his escape
From a world he didn't understand.

Today his kite is a patriotic red and white
And I am suddenly struck with nostalgia
For he was a child when I was a child
And although I've grown up
A child he will remain.

Long ago fears forgotten
I sit on the grass
And watch him fly.