5AM,
Tuesday, Sept. 28, 2004
Full moon?
Can't sleep.
Home from work, sick.
Maybe nineteen
at friends'
in James Bay.
A midnight stilt;
we would walk on them across the park.
But tonight,
across the road.
Fiercely-dreaming,
uncontainable teen,
no end, forever.
Old narrow road,
centre line on hump
above two curbs.
Exiting teens, and beer
three-foot stilts, laughing;
go...
A few long steps
slippery slope
wood departing
O'er the centre line
headlong;
would be flying
but can't.
The intimate face of the curb opposing
my face arriving
hands, feet and knees
Stopping, stop, stop, stop!
Thankful,
at forty six I am thankful;
(two young teens of my own, if there is such a thing)
I am thankful.
My friends, we survived —
no longer immortal —
but alive.
For seeing
the face of concrete,
and surviving,
I am thankful.
What was on the other side?
Created: September 28, 2004 Last updated: September 28, 2004
© 2004 Eric Porcher - All rights reserved.
Simcoe and St. Andrews,
Victoria, B.C. Canada
1978
