MOBILE CITY

Dave Wofford

Sun's up
Heat coming in through the window
Early.
A downstairs meeting with a bourbon hangover
and cereal and fruit and coffee and juice.
The morning newsprint
Lingering remnants of a tough yesterday;
Theirs,
Yours.
Out the door, strap your feet in and
Ride.
Into the wind
The sweat starts, pulse quickens
Hill steepens, breath deepens
Blooming magnolias up your nose
and out your legs.
Soaking it in as
Tree-lined neighborhood streets give way
to waves of shiny, one-way commuter traffic
Changing skyline between changing lights
Historic buildings are getting new faces
Green leaves dance on a blue sky
Raking sunlight strikes red brick buildings as
Heat begins to rise up, dissipating towards gliding clouds
And your mind is a pinball
On the verge of tilting
Navigating a tag on the car turning left in front of you
Trains rumble and whistles blow
Buses turn wide while weeds grow in cracks
Office buildings loom
Hiding fiber optic lines and things best not understood
Crosswalks and pot holes
Skirts and suits
Weaving and sliding through today's traffic
Pushing through yesterday's problems
Riding through it all as
The morning commute washes you off
Head cleared.
State cleaned.
Blood racing.
Desire awakened.
Eyes opened.
Thank you, Mobile City.