Balance

slides were my favorite. one in Irving Park, 
one on a hillside in Claxton Bay, 
under canopy of trees, part slide, part tunnel—
but I’m thinking of the seesaw today 
  
one on a hillside in Claxton Bay—
lever, a simple machine of sides shifting. 
I’m thinking of that seesaw today: 
balance, lifting weight and lowering  
  
lever, a simple machine of sides shifting. 
battered dry good scale in Pa Lee’s shop 
balance, lifting weight and lowering, 
doing the magic of measuring, making even—
  
battered dry good scale in Pa Lee’s shop 
one demi-bowl, one shelf, round metal weights 
doing the magic of measuring, making even—
enough flour or rice for Miss Melda to make a meal  

one demi-bowl, one shelf, round metal weights 
teaching what fair, what even looks like—
enough flour or rice for Miss Melda to make a meal 
proof we can find balance from one low, one high