Sidewalk Worms

in ,

By Trinette Hunter

Worms look like leaf stems & wet sticks

on the sidewalk

in the rain.


I stop to pick some up,

move them into the dirt

so that when it dries out

they will have somewhere safe to dig.


But there are too many

for me to save them all—


too many more haplessly crushed

by a rain boot or two.


They squirm to get away from my hand

and I try to show them that

I'm here to help...


I grab them by their broken parts.

 

From the April 2022 issue.