The lads are in the park with their tops off.
They’re talking about Lionel Messi
struggling to kick their red ball to each other.
They don’t care, it’s just good to be outside
and let their belly buttons feel the fresh air.
I’m doing laps of the circular patch of green
listening to my phone telling me
about the health of a man I love, desperate
for the red ball to accidentally fly my way,
desperate to connect with it.

© Carl Burkitt 2023