Sidewalk Squares

The chalky gray canvas of
Childhood Michelangelos,
The sandy slate surface
That both scraped our knees
And held our happy games
Of 4-square and hopscotch.

We skipped like cheerful
Ballerinas over the crooked
Cracks, playing doctor to
Our mothers' broken backs.
No one else could see the
Beauty in shattered squares.

The rough cement surface
Set the stage for our wild
Scooter races, reaching up
With callused fingers to catch
Us when we swerved around
Corners at the speed of sound.

This simple slate of charcoal
Gray was our friend and our
Teacher, whispering to us
The wonderful secrets hidden
In its world of powdered chalk
And endless concrete laughter.