walking home

i try to talk

with the sidewalk

and take a break

from myself

watching

my feet

orange paint

marking

electrical wires

underneath

so that

jackhammer man

won’t knock out

power

for the whole block

like last week

shadows

from the black

wire fence

that borders

the ball field

where young

players play

most days

not today

in june

weeds in the cracks

surviving

somehow

giving the city

some life

like the fallen leaves

half of

a ripped ticket

a pink slip

turned over

so i can’t see

what it says

old chewed

bubble gum

black now

stepped on

unchewable

or maybe

you could

black rocks

ran away from

the asphalt mass

covering

the hole

in the sidewalk

surrounded by

orange cones

other foot steps

in cement

that hadn’t dried

now dry forever

pink paint

and white paint

cigarette butts

feces

plastic bag

mayo packet

splattered

beige paint

that missed

the fire hydrant

gum wrappers

broken zip ties

water bottle cap

rustic metal

sewer gate

dirty napkin

crushed

water bottle

navy canvas belt

with metal buckle

looks to be

in good shape

crushed

cardboard

beer case

sidewalks

are alive

scarred

cracked

stepped on

supporting

without asking

for much

just to be

useful

is enough