I remember eyes wandering,
hiding behind cedar posts,
paying more attention to the tiles,
until common footsteps
might begin again.
My bench in the center of two seas
swaying toward and moving away
ascending and crossing paths
smiles and scorns
tired looks, and glaring fear.
I remember
hiding in plain sight
hiding in plain sight
hiding in pain’s flight
while all of you kept your lives in check.
I remember wondering
if the waves of human condition
might ever stop
might slow down only for a minute
a second or two of time,
always remember wandering,
or wondering,
where the lives belong,
where the time had gone.