ON THE ROAD, A WANDERER

step by step, I walk the road

no matter how rushed those around me

I take my own time

whether cars turn left or right

I choose my own direction

big fish glide in the aquariums

food stalls sell whopper fishballs

I’m not lured

some shove handcarts stacked with huge boxes

some pedal bikes

some steer a Rolls

all going somewhere. wind drifts

flowery clothes

into soft kaleidoscopes

I don’t have to see so clearly

heading slowly toward my heart’s core

what’s outside mists over

don’t think I took a wrong turn

don’t think I’m walking circles

I no longer follow the paths of others

no longer hurry to catch up

no longer in line for this group or that

joining one camp, attacking another

my left foot

right foot

meet the pavement

tracing my own mind’s map

walking slow

if by chance the city glare

blinds me

I glance away,

keeping my own pace