DC: Columbia Road

These buildings have swallowed too much
tingling autumn sky. They are lit up,
arms around each other's shoulders, leaning
against each other, singing off-key.

People paused on the sidewalk
can't hear the singing, but sense it
the way you sense, who knows how,
that a friend coming towards you
from a block away is looking right at you
and knowing you through your eyes,
the way shivered shadows seem
the laughter of light,

the way strolling or sitting on a bench
seems even now to be a memory
of a long-ago better time.

Dean Blehert

Last Updated: October 6, 2002