Through Us All

We all met under
the big tower clock
in the center of the city.

The day was grey in a way
that made everything sharp and stark

and we had a plan

to wander the streets
and see what we’d see
and talk
and pause where we chose to be still
and watch people pass
and eat and drink coffee.

Four friends in the phenomenon
of a bright grey day

I thought
and suddenly it stuck me
that this was a dream.

Not that I was sleeping

but something I’d always wanted
was happening right now:

I felt as if life
were staring through my eyes
—but not me or my life:

more like the excitement of being right here.

I knew that my friends knew this too
—that everyone in some way knew it:

anything we did would be fine
and right and as it should be

and that was what mattered.

And the big tower clock
chimed trembling waves
through us all.


.