outside the heat tries to draw me back

with air that shimmers visibly above the street

asking me to recall other roads in other times

I’ve been down them so much

that I still pick gravel from my shoes

today I turn away and close the door

then go into the cool shadowed room

any memories that linger beyond

can burn away in the sun

was I ever able to talk?

on that day when the cloud covered the sun

then split open for just one second

so that light became a focused dazzle

I remember speaking

not important nor memorable nor heard

something dropped from my mouth

a foreign coin falling from the pocket of a careless guest

I am a visitor here

have spent my time in useless loiter

pacing the platform of trains that do not exist

when the next one arrives, I shall board

settle into the window seat until I am home

pay the conductor with another word

another word another word

placed with attentive care into his waiting hand