there are these moments
when the absolute best kind of
unpredictability happens.
& i am obsessed. with the
entire surprise feeling.
—
last night, i went for a run after work.
now i should tell you
that when i run in the dark
[& only when i run in the dark. because,
well, i feel less obvious in the dark]
i like to play this game. it’s kinda
like tag. except you never actually touch anyone
because they’re strangers that don’t know about the game
so that would be awkward.
the game is simple. i try to catch everyone in front of me
and then fall in glide behind them for a few seconds
to just, you know, catch my breath enough
to then try to catch the next person.
except for the sprinters. when i can’t tag
the many sprinters that pass me, the tag of the game
becomes this
just-keep-up // breathe in // breathe out
& count to ten. i just try to keep their speed
alongside them until i count to a slow ten.
& if i stop
then the ground turns to lava.
[or some other dramatic characteristic
from the days of playground games]
i tend to find a great amount of satisfaction
in those short ten seconds.
—
and last night, the game was going well.
with lots of runners & opportunity.
but then i came around the south east bend of the park
& i heard a bit of a ruckus.
so i yanked my headphones cord
right outta its socket & recognized a familiar croon.
and right when i was counting second number six
my thoughts exclaimed
RAY? is that you?
and then i heard the familiar
worry, worry, worry, worry
worry just will not seem to leave my mind alone
but i’ve been saved by a woman
and i laughed and thought,
RAY! it IS you!
and i just abruptly stopped. without thinking
about the possible pile-up that can happen
on narrow central park roads filled with
runners and cyclists when an oblivious
someone
just stops
moving.
…and…
one or two
may have tripped.
they were not happy with me.
(which is understandably fair)
but then they unplugged, too
& recognized RAY!
so i said a lot of apologies,
and just kept pointing to RAY!
they also really liked his croon,
so then all was well on the
new york neighbor front.
—
and i must tell you,
there are these moments
when a girl turns a new york bend
and surprise!
this city can be so magical to me.
so i found an oak tree to support me
and i leaned back & just closed my eyes.
i am convinced that there is nothing better
for the release of my soul than listening to
live music while leaning against an oak tree.
it was so good to just be still.
& while staring skywards through the shelter
branches of the old wise oak, i went to church.
listening to some of my old favorites from RAY.
appreciating the way that every lyric earns its spot.
—
you know,
i wasn’t expecting any of this
when i put on my running shoes
last night.
& that’s why i just can’t get enough
of this city’s bends.
