So many of my classmates were born in June

Liz, Eli, Daniel

Michael, Christine, Immanuel

I wonder now what are they doin

We sat next to each other for 12 years

Colored in those Christmas bells with our crayons

Hung from the monkey bars

We all learned of life together

Learned to drive with our parents’ cars

But now they’re all gone

Here I remain in this not-so-small-town

The school where we grew up was a magical playground

Now I watch my parents and theirs stoop

As we all grow old

I jog past that school every Sunday to recoup

In June no one’s there

But I see the orange ball of sun and the tall metal cross

They’re all scattered, on their own now, but I hope not lost

They all came from good families

The ocean’s roar, the timeless adventures here could never ban me

Briefcases and cubicles, blazers and SUVs

Surely this isn’t our destiny

I hope they still color

I hope they still wonder

I hope Josh still surfs

As all my old friends have moved on and away

As they all give birth

I think about their birthdays

The skating rinks and bowling alleys

Pep rallies

I’m still here jogging

I’m still looking at that cross

The place and people that shaped me

Trying to figure out what it means

I’m still here despite time passing

Still wondering

Who is the boss

What in this life are we amassing

I take it in

It was and is all over so soon

I think about my old friends

At the start of each summer, at graduation season

In June