so i run

in a sky and a place
who's first name basis
is far from autonomic
i brave the wave of necessity
that pushes me out the door
i need to sweat
i need to breathe
like only this can allow
so i run

i do not yet understand the words
of these giant grey dinosaurs
who rumble and crackle
their way across this afternoon

i do not yet understand
whether they are telling me
the sky will erupt with cats and dogs
as if something had disemboweled a lake
in the heavens, or
that it will rip in half
over and over
along seams of white heat
in fleeting flashes of anger

or both.
or neither…

and i see this giant grey herd
of brontosaur lining up
in the distance
and though i don't know
if their presence is ominous or majestic
i need this cleansing
so i run

with an eye on the sky
reaching for comprehension
of the language
falling on my foreigner ears

as i run
my anxiety begets gratitude
i am grateful
for the presence of mind
pulled out of me
for 34 minutes
until i click the stop on my watch
and unlock my front door,
breath heavy, sweat permeating, body unscathed

i may not yet understand
the speech of these ancient beasts
but i believe i may have just learned how to say
to this sky and this place
"hello, my name is..."






wb