art class

we stood on the plastic chairs
and dared each other to
     jump
           deeply
into the quiet of our minds
     like rain bombarding
the root of a tree
and drawing it upward
     through the branches
          and leaves
carrying it to the
sky to meet the storm

we laughed as we crashed
     to the floor
and i realized the
     barking dogs
overwhelming his thoughts
kept him from
     closing his eyes and
          going deep