Poem #21

In Punta Arenas still with nothing
to do but shop for groceries
on a Sunday, life's been restored
in the Plaza de Armas, so I watch
as skaters in full garb & board
meander up & down the sidewalks
and a few Chilean B-boys
try and battle a bit, all friendly
no real hostilities it looks like,
especially with this little kid --
what, 10, 12 years old? --
jumping over himself,
always landing flat-backed
still learning that crucial handstand
that way to spin your body
leg under arm around leg
around arm & up into air
and stay there for an eternal minute
and land face down, flat.