I was standing still
amidst the traffic
roiling Times Square
Summer afternoon
How could I know what
I would wait there for?
Summer city heat
Some tourists walking
in some language
that they understand
The buildings rising high
I cupped their lights
in my hands
And then I saw the moon
already higher than those buildings
Yet how could I know
it would shine through
evening’s shadow?
The streets were full
Their lines were fine
The light was dull
I was still standing still
The cars were
coming quickly
City moving
and my feet fast
Traffic light
The wind
a horn
a fan
a flash
There was a
sudden boom
a smile
a dog
a cart
a bike
me waiting
Then I greeted one friend
then appeared another
another appeared, then
you...
Then only wonder when I
heard
your
name
A smiled silent moment
set in motion
my emotion then
A smiled silent moment
Times Square fade-out
as night came out bright
A million quiet moments
walking slowly
turning softly
knowing nothing
saying only
simple words that
I forgot my-
self.
Going through the night
Uncertain gestures
in a certain light
that I recognized
A memory that
I could not keep clear
All around a meal
Your laughter
echoed in me
from long ago
My language
grew into the
language you know
A movement from your shoulder
rising in hand
exclaiming a wave
A movement curving your leg
Each new moment
showing who you are
A movement in your turning
face
A movement turning you in
place
An invisible movement
turned me an expert
into a novice
And then the night starts to recede
a future drawn
tourists gone home
Till I was sitting still
the restaurant bare
evening air blows
The midtown lights
the grids
the walls
a wind
a bird
your hair
Departing
friends now parting
then another
and the others
I was falling without knowing how
A smiled silent moment
A silent million moments
A million silent movements
A million finest moments
Your quiet tilted movement
My tilting final moments
Your final brilliant movement
A final lilting moment
Then
my million quiet moments
rolling in a
taxi cab, chang-
ing.