April is National Poetry Month! "A walk in the park"

A walk in the park

Nervous old habit:
Half-opaque slivers
Scraping along skin,
Seeking imperfections.
Grooming, exfoliation;
Removing the dead skin, scabs,
Bitten scars, edges.

Nervous habit:
Half-moon nails,
Strong and sharp
Snap-clicking
(Thumb, middle finger);
Click click marking time.

Even footsteps
Pacing along the path,
Past the dogwoods,
Under oak leaves,
Past shirtless, laughing boys throwing round discs
Under the radiating sun.
Look toward laughing boys
From the shadow of leaves
Where the pale things walk.

Nervous habit:
Half-moon nails scratching skin,
Seeking imperfections,
Marking time.