Fantasizing Fantasy
by Odin Roark

Unlike tomorrow
Yesterday was special
Projecting today’s reason to regret

What started out as mere composition
Something most do well
Scarfs
Coats
A poodle in hand
Making an ordinary group picture unique
Smiles
Arms in arms
Shoulder pals
Stoic faces for good measure
All enjoined for camera’s sake
Knowing a picture is supposed to last

Then

A storm
A dark night
A flash
Beckoning moments
Drawing downward
Ignored instincts rendered prophetic
Soaked clothes of the deep
Like bobbing corks orphaned from desperation
Now in swaddling survival gear

No one knew
Meeting the man patiently waiting
As silhouette yesterday
Would become the guide today

A man now recognized
A stranger from nowhere
Lurking as the observer
A back row sneak
A collective shadow
Smirking at our smug confidence

We were indomitable
We were of Wall Street
We could walk on water

Or float like the photograph now drifting alongside