une âme givrée

i've survived again

to be in this cool(ing) place

a pleasant breeze

one single Sabal amongst the Oaks,

Crepe Myrtles

dappled shadows on red bricks

Liriopes & Coonties

underneath the trees

the city around me buzzes, hums

another iced latte

as i watch all of humanity

doing the things that they do

someone starting an edger

deliniating the path

a clear, ada-compliant way forward

backward

onward

i've felt the icy claws of mortality

too many times now

fifty six years it's been

decade after decade of trial, reprieve

then try again

all of the older ones i now see traversing the path,

they were young at one time

all of the young ones i now see traversing the path,

will be a little worse for wear

i can say that i've earned my stoop,

my white goatee,

the silver streaks making paths of their own in my hair

a little worse for wear

as i stare, and stare, and stare

at this world,

at humanity

...

i like my coffee cold