Magic games

the toys that led the sidewalks walking
were separating circles from squares
the squares played hopscotch and
the rubber ball led the way

it was odd the way
the sidewalks unearthed the earth
like square footprints walking
it was thirteen o'clock no one noticed
except a few and they weren't telling

the toys that led the sidewalks walking
gathered in some nameless park
that knew no religion or language
just the games of sidewalk earth
that thirteen o'clock played

the children gathered skipping in their sleep
the air breathed its silent whisper
children pavement into air
breathless mice aware
they were not telling

the toys that led the sidewalks walking
felt the time hit two
one or sixty they knew what to do
toys to squares and circles magic merry round
back to perfect puzzle piecing place

the rubber ball bounced silently in place
tracing children mice back into space
the magic wavering when split in two
the timing knew exactly what to do.

Denis Streeter 4/16/14

Signpost starlings

The title is a way of including two William Mayne quotes. William Mayne has written nearly 100 children's books since 1953.

John and Alice were looking at a
signpost where two roads joined
each other. Alice was looking at
it more than John was. She was
looking at it all over, but he was
reading it.
"It's like a pencil with wings,"
said Alice. "What did it write on
itself?
"It wrote some words I don't
know," said John...Signpost have
names of places on them."

The Water Boatman, William Mayne, 1964, pages 5-7 (illustration shows pencil like signpost)

Another William Mayne quote:

There was a noise like a wheel spinning on a dry axle. It
came down the chimney after the kettle had been lifted
off the fire. Mother wondered if it was the boiler behind
the red coal about to burst, but Daddy, who was out in
the yard mixing cement, said it was a gathering of
starlings on the roof looking for lodging.

First page of The Changeling by William Mayne, 1961

William Mayne tilts your thinking of the ordinary.