spring a time of unexpected
when the sun burns warm
and clouds drop rain
in glimpse of promise and
longer blaze days
that suddenly retreat into cooler haze
 

a wisp of the wind I float in days
aware of a pen laying lost on the street
pick it up, pick it up came into mind
its very reminder like an angel message
and I’d like to think its nothing at all
and it whispers to me, you know better
 

I stood outside of a coffee café
having my smoke, because this is LA
and we respect the air of non smokers
I felt invisible to the crowd on the street
an outside observer of their rambled chat
aware to the discussion of whos and thats
 

I paced the curb eyes looking down
perhaps a symbol yet could be found
and grinned at the sight of a paper clip
finding that place that laughs inside
at a piece of metal revealing itself
of holding it all together
 

his stare had come as unexpected
a few nights before in another place
evil in its intensity, it glared of rage
and simmered a violence about to blaze
he didn’t know me, nor did I know him
yet a battle of place, a battle of spirit
kept my eyes firm and locked upon his
 

neither of us blinked nor took a breath
as he slammed out his poetry complaining
he hated, he angered, he was darkness possessed
his shriek to the room, yet his eyes still focused
in stare and glare of my awareness
eye to eye, penetrating depths beyond the room
I did not look away, and I did not back down
because I knew
 

from somewhere inside me
where will still survives
and everything good that
recharges the light
flooded that moment
right out of my eyes and back into his
he stopped
and closed his eyes
and the poison stopped gushing
out of his mouth 
 

I wondered in that moment
if I had judged
but it was so beyond reason
it came from the gut
that instant reaction
a survival of soul
that gently smiled
and he walked away cold
 

I picked up the pen
left lost on the street
and let its words flow
now out of me
knowing that spring is so unpredicted
 

when the sun burns warm
and clouds drop rain
in glimpse of promise and
longer blaze days
that suddenly retreat into cooler haze