A Fountain, A World

I wrote this in Spring 2008. It's one of my favorites (if a writer is allowed to have favorites).

A Fountain, A World

They scream, delighted terror,
And the water from out the ground leaps and lands
On small shoulders and bare feet. 
The smallest ones stand still, 
Unaware of their soaked bodies or their mother’s cameras,
While older ones chase the jumping waters or run away. 

When the water hits them, they cry out
And their cries bring laughter inside me
Which I struggle to keep silent.
But why should I not laugh?
This is their universe.
This short hour, this water is all--
They leave the world with their shoes on the stairs, and forget them. 

A childish fancy takes me 
And brings me into their world as I walk by.
In my mind I am prancing in the water with them,
Cares forgotten. 
Wounds healed. 
Joy conquering all.