The Benefits of Boredom

It’s the idle mind that
Cracks open the window—
Lets nostalgia creep in
Lets memory seep in-
to consciousness, crystal clear
Midwest summers where
We played unfettered—our feet
Toughened by the asphalt street
Chalked with hopscotch and foursquare.
Wiffleball on the front lawn, and there
We played jacks, on the small concrete porch
That held the sun’s heat while the scorch
Of the day flowed into the cool of night.