We walked three blocks to school and back

And skipped around the sidewalk cracks

The older children knew this hack

And taught us so matter-of-fact

If you happen to step on a crack

You’ll surely break your mother’s back

And so I tread with careful feet

One two three-stop, and then repeat

Precarious on every street

My mother’s life in every beat

Made sure my brother did repeat

The every movement of my feet

Until the day he wriggled free

And ran ahead, face filled with glee

Smashing cracks mercilessly

Killing our mom purposefully

While every stomp brought him more glee

I cried, feeling more trapped than free

Yet when we got home we found

Our mother waiting, safe and sound

There was no point in walking round

The sidewalk cracks along the ground

Or policing the every sound

Of feet avoiding dents they found

Though that should have quelled my fears

The next day brought similar tears

My brother revving up his gears

To step on cracks, then laugh and sneer

The thought of mom hurting brings tears

And is something I’ll always fear