Funny Blue Balloons Poem by Juan Olivarez

I was only
Ten years old.
When I first saw
The funny blue balloons.

They covered the beach
On Padre Island
Stretching as far
As I could see.

People stared at them
People walked around them
People jumped over them
People threw sea shells at them.

What a fun game.
I would play football
And kick them
Between the getties.
And back into the gulf..

My primordial scream
Of pain
I swear
Was heard round the world.

Prominent red and purple
Rivers
Ran up and down
My frail jr. High body.

My legs spasmed uncontrollably
from the pain.
my lungs wouldn't work
My back, and front
Cramped up
At the same time.
Finally my bologna sandwich
And German potato salad
Came up to feed the Gulls.

What a day at the beach.
And all thanks
To those
Funny Blue Balloons.

5/28/14
ALTON TEXAS