image by author.

parkplaza.

A nod invites me to approach.
And I do.
He then lifts a hand to stop me.
I abide.

Time passes, it’s passing us both,
we’re waiting.
Me — to get to where I need to go,
him — well, he’s on the clock.

Briefly, our universes coincide,
we’re falling at a constant speed,
time’s not bending,
not quite yet.

A metal coffin we share
for a full 23 seconds.
I have no wish to leave,
it’s all transitory —
and I can live with it.

A knock on my window,
he waves me on to exit.
I hesitate, but before he bellows
“Leave now!”
I muster the courage
and get out.