Leslie Dianne

Come on, he says
shoving everyone aside
like we are in
his world space
come on, he says
louder this time
as a bubble of man rage
simmers on his skin
I focus on his
tone of voice
annoyed, like everything
is irritating him
come on, he shouts
a third time
his voice yanking
the air behind him
forward into fear
we stumble into
the subway car
surrounding
circling
engulfing
protecting
that slow to
catch up person
who is woman
and calm the air
by our silence and stillness
we let her know that
she is our sister
and our friend
and we are there
we are there

I spy over
the shoulder
of the man
who sits outside
whole foods with an
old fashioned typewriter
his fingers leaping
from one loud key to the next
characters bursting forth
onto the pages
their secret weapons raised
soothing conflicts
boosting esteem
I hear that he is able
to hold the moon in place
and put new stars
in the universe
I think he’s really
a superhero
in disguise as
an ordinary man
with a sign that reads
free poems
but I know the truth
he is saving lives
with words