Walking
Fortunately, you can go out walking.
You expect very little, only dusk
foreshadowing night, the murmur
of animal life at the ready, & a breeze,
its edge honed sharper than expected.
For now, solitude is desire without
fanfare. You can take stock, see things
for what they seem without the burden
of intellect or wit. You could explain
all this, make sense of it, if surrounded,
threatened, coaxed, enticed. Oh yes,
an audience—close friends or passersby,
lovers, perhaps—all suitably intrigued
enough to stick around. What could be
better? You might tell them the night
is yours alone & loneliness a form
of joy that doesn’t advertise. They may
chuckle & swear they understand.
Yo comprendo, says one, as Spanish
is a loving tongue. Do come with us,
they urge, walking toward the bright
lights, your protests, heard as little other
than the rustle of dry leaves, of no use.
Sid Gold is the author of five collections of poetry, including “Crooked Speech” (Pond Road Press, 2018) and “Very Eyes” (Poets’ Choice, ’23). His work has appeared in many journals and reviews, and he is a twice-recipient of a Maryland State Art Council Individual Artist Award for Poetry. Sid was voted among the best poets in Baltimore in Baltimore Magazine’s 2019 Reader’s Poll. He lives in Hyattsville MD. “Very Eyes” is available on Amazon