the streets were lined with trees
and if you looked closely
there was a small town filled with dolls
in one of the houses
with picture perfect faces
and we were blessed
when the girl with bouncy curls chose us
come play with me
and we would shout
glee-stricken
or run across the street so
we can’t hear our parents call us home
now we are untouchable
we can’t remember when tragedy
cut through
tire tracks that look the way a scream sounds
are muddled on the road
chalk drawings of castles
we stained our hands and
one cherry popsicle please
we colored the concrete red
like rose petals we threw before
they scattered around us
ring around the rosie pocket full of posies
pristine memories
and the trees came into view
when we spun out of control

when we spun out of control
and the trees came into view
pristine memories
ring around the rosie pocket full of posies
they scattered around us
like rose petals we threw before
we colored the concrete red
one cherry popsicle please
we stained our hands and
chalk drawings of castles
are muddled on the road
tire tracks that look the way a scream sounds
cut through
tragedy is the white crosses on our parents’ lawns but
now we are untouchable
we can’t hear our parents call us home
or run across the street so
glee-stricken
and we would shout
come play with me
when the girl with bouncy curls chose us
we were blessed
with picture perfect faces and
in one of the houses
there was a small town filled with dolls
and if you looked closely
the streets were lined with trees