All I Knew

Walking right through the crowd
On their phones, whispering
Unknown, behind sheet glass,
Is this all I knew?

Waiting for the lights to turn
From shattered to immaculation
Naked to the sun, the rain,
Is this all I knew?

Watching watery painted faces
For whom the ebb tides wait
Dusk to dawn for a while,
Is this all I knew?

Wondering where they go
Umbrellas, tattoos, eyes bold
Measured, split, given life,
Is this all I knew?

Warm memories, film reels
Waving hands, hosts of bodies
Never letting go, no goodbyes,
Is this all I knew?

Waiting for the patient few
Lucent, this morning’s best view
Held together, makeshift,
this is all I knew.