there were those bleary summer afternoons
hanging by the corner window
gazing hazily at the sun as it stepped down the ladder
leaning on the other side of that
library left for dead
on the inside of our shelter looking out
with mischievous curiosity
at the other kids on the block
who dominated the road for another round of catch
they threw up their arms in freedom
meanwhile,
from our seat behind the curtains
we fashioned a game of our own
call out and duck
we fed off of the confusion we inspired
on our strangerly neighbors' faces
and when the novelty wore off
we watched on
until they formed a marching band
behind the ice cream man, hypnotized
by his notorious singsong
they danced along
disappearing around the corner
we watched on
until we could hear them no more


i peer out that window now and remember