walking near northwestern university

taxis trumpet

together.

pine necks

stretch towards

busy clouds.

the seamless face

of a grey-silver

cement pool.

cleansing scents

of a flamboyant forest –

the woods

are starkly quiet.

a student

streams by –

her rugged face

paints

a sunbeam gaze.

a harshly manicured

garden is a

western metaphor.

strutting scholars chatter,

not lamenting

that they are

idealists

in a bleeding world.

i stop

for a pop

feeling

the world’s tension

with poetic attachment.

5/5/1995 Evanston, IL

9/29/2016 Chicago