Crosswalk

Crosswalk

The thoughts squeal past like
yellow checkered taxi cabs in this subconscious metropolis
The meter counts off with a patronizing
click-tick, the time until her sanity expires
Each landmark of familiarity is now molted from
confusion and hesitation’s oily exhaust.
“Walk this way” seeps into“Yield”
Curves of adventure merge into narrow lanes
Lights wink “Proceed with caution,”
as sirens resound akin to St. Gabrielle’s trumpet
Meanwhile she’s hallucinating on the curb
teetering on the cement cliff
battling those angry metal giants of commerce and status
in her grown-up garb.
“I just want to get there.”
She mumbles
to the white gloves and the face with the whistle.
Remembering when this
adrenaline rush-hour was all that mattered
and forgetting the locale of this eventual
destination.
Looking over her shoulder to determine
exactly where on the intersection
she lost her compass and keys.
Empty hands pull fluff from woolen pockets
as she searches with disbelief
amid her determination.