You, with your laser-like eyes

with your great, great surprise.

Where were you when the town’s

bell tolled loud and clear as the domed

world clinged, clanged with a summer’s

night echo, when the fixed stars

held their place, their early summer

reference: You are here.

Where was I then, in the earth-spin

moment when it All Came Down

and the geese lifted high as if to say,

Enough! Leaving this world, they took

flight to some other. How I wished

I could follow on their downy, lazy backs.

But now, nearing forty, I see it is never

so simple as the quick-start

run. That one must stay put, no matter

that the pistol goes off and the flag

comes down. Shhhh … that sound is 

the rushing of your heart as you stand

as if meeting yourself for the first time ever.