Puddles

Half past three, the rain lets up
I'm carrying a paper cup
The sidewalk's turned to scattered glass
And everybody edges past
Grown coats lifted, careful feet
A slalom down a shining street
But something old is in my heel
A bounce the years forgot to steal

I know the rules, I know the cost
The list of things I'll count as lost
But there's a cloud down on the ground
A piece of sky turned upside down
And I have walked around for years
Today the old bounce reappears

The sky fell down this afternoon
It's lying shallow in the street
And it's been waiting all these years
An old cold song beneath my feet
So I step through like no one taught me better
I step through and the day forgets my name

One step, and winter grabs my shin
And something warmer floods back in
The cup goes sideways, coffee flies
I'm laughing at my own surprise
A stranger smiles despite herself
The careful man is somewhere else

I know the rules, I know the cost
And nothing that I love is lost
My socks are ruined, so's my pride
And both were heavy things to hide
The afternoon opens like a door
I'm ten years old at half past four

The sky fell down this afternoon
It's lying shallow in the street
And it's been waiting all these years
An old cold song beneath my feet
So I step through like no one taught me better
I step through and the day forgets my name

The rain comes back to see me win
Soft applause on soaking skin
I remember this
I never lost it
It was always mine

The sky dried up, the gold moved in
It's lying quiet in the street
It waited there my whole life long
A warm old song beneath my feet
And I stepped through like no one taught me better
I stepped through and the day forgot my name

Two wet shoes beside the door
Curled and grinning, asking for more
If it rains again tomorrow
I know what my feet are for