It lay in the road
black and shiny and still
we poked it with sticks
the way children do
we laughed in a way
only children can laugh
touched it with only
the toe of our shoes
and stillness came off it in waves
like a scent
we waited to see
if it lifted its head
but it lay in the sun
thick and heavy like meat
and we left with our sticks
and went home to our supper
we left it behind
the way children do
left it there
in the road where it lay
and we lifted our heads
when it was black
and shiny and still
and we said things to God
only children can say.