Glance (for Kane's friend Bernstein)

can’t see beyond the clouded
the walls like a career     remember
the couple i glanced toward on the subway today
walked the floors of an alternative universe
watched them like dust     the mud of an ulterior city
the same year     the same weather
the calm clarity of having been in love since college
bonded with the station i knew for that instant
	imagine them and their imaginary children
	envy them     even if you can’t mention it
	imagine how she spoke     what she’d say to you
	saw her on the dock     never met her
	saw the ship leave and she was gone
	envy their life every day     if only its mystery
    
    
    
    

A version of this one was published in Yew Nork (2014)