Two old horseshoes
embedded in the sidewalk
not ten feet from the steps
leading up to our front door

One of the neighbors
might remember who set them there
back when they poured the concrete
a piece of local lore

Coming home late at night
I place my feet carefully
covering the rusty curves
with my wide running shoes

not that I'm superstitious
it's just a sudden impulse
to honor the tradition
and anyway who knows?