The Return of Sidewalk Chalk by Wil Triggs

After the dumpings of snow 

When It seemed the mounds would never melt 

That there would never be another spring 

That temps would never go high enough 

To make it all go away

This trickling dissolving we know 

Yet forget the way a little warmer felt.

This year, forgetfulness is a thing.

Children in unzipped jackets have had enough.

Their tubs of color show up in the driveway 

So a town appears on the blacktop 

A pool, two rows of homes, a church, a school.

Don’t forget the park roughly drawn 

A whole community appears, spring bulbs popping up 

From the hands of children in a single day. 

We wonder what else will stop.

Masked or not we play the fool 

One day we will waken to a different dawn 

As often as you drink this cup 

With colored chalks of faith we pray.