school pickup line

the clouds' indolent roll like pipe smoke of an unseen giant blanketing the land tarnishing some, enchanting others kids pass with their blissful chatter holiday decorations spot houses owners too busy or too depressed or too jovial for such mundane tasks porch lights speckle the winter afternoon overtures of stories too complex for words, the failed form the crossing guard stops me to engage in the daily banter willing monotony for me a life-giving moment for him the banter of democracy his pupils glisten and a half-smile cracks as home rests behind his eyes with canned beer and pipe smoke of the evening hour where indolence marches on in honor