Keep the purple boots dry

A woman walks her child to school
from the car,
takes a call on her mobile phone
The ice, desert islands
on the sidewalk sea. The boy
tries to walk on the islands,
keep his boots sidewalk-dry.

The boy is too slow. She talks
and gently tugs. The boy says
I am a god. I am Shiva. I will
keep the purple boots dry. The
mother says I am Kali and I will keep
my nine o’clock appointment,

or I will devour the son.
Everything is as it is. There is
hunger. There are efforts
to fight hunger. There is
struggle. And this is love.

-- David Cheezem