Before twenty five I have

Seen towers fall and dictators rise

As if history is a lever that seeks

equilibrium. I trust that the balance

It requires is on my side 

But even then I do not know which

My apartment fire escape overlooks a corner portion of the UCSF Parnassus campus.

walking against the grain 

hyacinth coat hedged over the knee,

two legs stumble forward

fighting tension.

perhaps it is your skin,

brown-fringed hat

extra-large cup 

Kaleidoscopic luminosity, urban serenity, and vivid imagery –– these are the essential qualities exuded by this meta-illustrative, and regenerative, portrayal of the Golden Gate Bridge, and by conceptual extension, Golden Gate City.

How are you?

I Inhale.

And I’m quickly reminded that this was first real breath I’ve taken all day

How long have I been holding it?

fleetingly she glimpsed by ---

a backyard hummingbird fluttering,

feeding her hatchlings:

spiny, naked little things,

blind and squirmy,

perilously craning,

that grew feathers and left