When the Hornets Swarm 
(for Philip)

In the underbrush,
two boys hunt
for treasure--a homerun ball,
a set of tarnished keys. Sneakers
scatter stones among last years' leaves
and crushed cans. They call this

'the woods'--a small stand of trees
left unbulldozed
beside the playground--
or 'the shortcut'
though it's longer
to school. One boy pulls
his snack from his backpack, lets it
slap against a tanned leg. They laugh