John-Ward Leighton

PLACES TO BE, AND PLACES TO SEE

A day planned and waiting,
the surreal swirl of traffic
and people waiting,
hands warming in pockets,
waiting for their coffee orders.
The clack and bang of espresso machines,
and the white noise of many conversations.
Grid lock outside inches along
with impatient honks
every time the light changes.
The hormonally challenged
race away for a hundred meters or so,
only to stop at the next light
just outside our fogged windows.

Cannonball Adderley and Miles Davis
on the soundtrack
one of the few times that Miles
was a sideman,
the arrangements smooth and cool
and nobody’s fool.

A person passing my table sneezes
with no Gesundheit from me.
I have my moron deflectors up
and am impassive to all
I don’t choose to recognize.

Fifteen minutes before
I have to be up and moving.
Fifteen minutes
before I have to
join the stampeding herd.
Time to wash my cup
and saddle up
‘cause I have
places to be, and places to see.