TheGymnastby Gary Soto

For

somersault

cartwheels

back flip

I . . . spent a few minutes rolling around the backyard until I was

dizzy and itchy with grass.

the

shoe

s flew

off, along with the tape.

esh

oes f

lff ewe

offff , along with the tat p

But when

I did a cartwheel,

My

Drops of sweat

dry hands

wrists dripping tape

I

cartwheels

back flip

. . . and, finally, after much hesitation, a back flip that nearly

cost me my life . . .

My toes cooledoled

on t

he

sum

mer

y gr

ass.

I

cartwheels by the dizzy dozens.

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