The Man You Just Passed

No clear origin, No obvious direction. Thick-thighed, big-bellied, Heavy buttocked, hairy, Squat, a working man, Head set directly into chest, Upright. Upright looking Skyward, looking earthward, Averting eyes, looking deeply Into eyes, burning to look Deeply, to reach out to you In the pride of his youth.

Upright. Arms uncomfortable At his sides, gesturing, Grunting out of a cave, Ice-driven into shelter, Planting the alluvial plains, Words in his mouth, desirous Of love. Desirous Of knowledge, knowing Nothing of himself, or next To nothing, some damned To wander in search, damned To knowledge of his wandering, No clear origin, no obvious Direction, a book of myths And laws, a flood, A kingdom, a flood, Bound up and freed And bound again, walking, Feet planted in fear, planting

Nothing, facing murder. Talking. Eating. Eating well. Eating with his eyes Over his shoulder, taking Shelter in cities, no Clear origin, no obvious Direction, lover Of women, lover Of children, deserter Of both, bound up And freed and bound again, Walking, arms uncomfortable At his sides, feet Planted in fear, planting

Nothing, facing murder, In a country Of murderers, I reach out to you, I'm the man you just passed, There were words in my mouth.