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Behind the apartment complex
they spread out tattered towels
on the hillside,
rubbed baby oil,
sometimes vegetable oil,
on young limbs
and watched neighborhood boys
scuffle in dust around the old elm.

After a few hours,
when the sun's rays slanted
across the parking lot across the way,
they spat out gum in tall grass
while walking home
with bare feet on hot pavement
and ground bits of glass.

Later that night,
they would wet sheets and spread them flat
on shag carpet
in front of tv sets and box fans,
peeling strips of potato rinds,
soothing aloe,
for hot skin.