road chalk

snow and salt and chalkiness are comforting
everything is normal. I love the damp patches
where the snow has melted. the roads are clean
there is sunlight. the clothes people are wearing
are not new. the ground is hard and solid.

grey-white asphalt sidewalks. it is cold, biting,
there is no madness of perfection

anywhere

except in this idealization of the ordinary
but no! these are just people driving around
doing what they are doing.