Gridlock traffic in the heat
People in crowds at the burger window
And lights that refuse to change
Sluggish as well and lost in fugue
The SUV pulls to a stop
And a black man gets out
Walks over to the coupe
And throws a coffee
Over the back
The asian man inside gets out
Walks to the back and examines
As if he is unsure it is coffee
Traffic crawls behind him
His dilemma obscures both lanes
He gets back in
Turns hard left
Begins pursuit
I gain a carlength
A rivulet of sweat
Rolls down my forehead
And drops to my leather coat
Before finding its way to my leg
Where it soaks in, dreaming of evaporation
And five lights later
The asian pulls behind me
Out of a time warp
With no haste
Casual
As if he has murdered and been back
Without any real effort
No small surprise
In this wet, dead heat