I’m heightened.

My ears are tuned to the sounds

of the cars as they pass.

Their pffts,

varooms,

hmms,

their clittys,

bangs,

squeals,

whistles.

My eyes are wandering from passing headlights

to shuffling people

to stain glass windows,

illuminated by inside lamps,

to flittering bus station bulbs

to the buzz of electric wheelchairs,

with their Harpo saint drivers,

to glowing crosses perched on limestone church.

There goes a honk,

my heart beat,

my numb foot,

the ache of my wrist as I write.

All is amplified.

All is heightened.

Shadows passing though no one is now walking.

I’m alone here

but they will come,

the retards, the homeless,

the college students who live

in far out apartments.

There goes a man in a hunting cap

and a library bag

entering dark alleys

of bank vault night.

there is an old man in khaki vest

limping his way through

post office doors,

a black man in his suede shoes.

I told you they would come.

Stand your ground long enough

and everyone will pass you by.

Even my gray notebook makes a crackle

when I turn to see what I wrote.

The car doors slam

and my cigarette smoke

fills my air,

as the cherry warms my knuckles.

the college students arrive with their backpacks

and their voices.

No one was talking here till now.

They hiss and they laugh,

make monkeyshines

and songs.

Wheelchair zooms by.

Thunp thump,

glass door.

Clack clack swoosh,

shuffle backpacks.

And here comes the buses.

The curses of the crazy,

“Asshoe.

Fuckin asshoe!

Couldna stop ta go out is way.”

And now the people come.

Standing,

waiting,

looking at each other,

sizing each other up.

False bad asses spit on the sidewalks

then they spit again.

Old ladies shiver with their black purses

and fat old bellies.

Pffts and with

pffts come the retards.

Looking at you with their insane demands.

I cannot fly today.

Don’t bother me tomorrow.

I can’t even make out what he’s saying.

Smile and nod like the rest of them.

Smile and nod and hope

he cannot mumble

forever.