The Sidewalk around Our House

Those early weekday morningswhen I'd enter the saunaof coffee vapors, head low,

worried about somethingI thought tantamount to death(arithmetic maybe—dividing

decimals and subtractingfractions), you'd askwhat was wrong, and I'd mumble

I was worried. By the hand,you'd then take me outunder the hackberry trees

and have me step on their seedsto hear the crack that was to cheer me."What is there to worry about?"

you'd ask, and then repeat ituntil we reached the drivewaywhere your car waited.