I hope they'll be ok

[saw]

from the front porch I watch
the colorful metal boxes roll by,
humming rubber kazoos sing from tires,
the occasional horn or siren
the music of rush hour traffic
all determined to not be late
for their very important dates,
my neighbor pops out his door
backpack strapped on,
ballcapped and tan from trimming
trees in the city, he won't
need his chainsaw this weekend
tells me he's heading for long island
on the mega-bus to get drunk with a friend,
a man walks by in blue tennis shoes
earbuds visible in auditory canals,
he's heading for the convenience store
to pick up his lottery ticket, dreams
of millions puts a wry smile on his lips
as he sings to himself, a free bird
that doesn't care about audiences
one way or the other,
and I'm in my rocking chair, happy
to be alive...an ambulance screams by
strobe lights of red and white, warning
klaxons that hurt my ears, and I think
to myself, I'm glad it's not me this time....
I hope they'll be ok

[sasha]

and we're glad as well!

[judih]

prayers for others
whoever they are
may they be okay

[the mingo]

and I think
to myself, I'm glad it's not me this time....

yeah, & don't we all -