so i live in portland now
in a big tall house
with hardwood floors and roommates
crammed next to many other
big tall houses
with hardwood floors and roommates
on a long, narrow street
with cracked gray sidewalk
that intersects with countless other
long, narrow streets
with cracked gray sidewalk
numbered streets, hundreds of them
bisected by streets named for pioneers and explorers
a few presidents
gens. sherman and grant
and the pescatory pride of the northwest: salmon
i run for blocks and blocks into miles
past equally unique neighborhoods filled with homes
with hardwood floors and big windows
painted wood paneling
babies and bicycles
coffee and cracked gray sidewalk
turn-of-the-century homes
(old for oregon
young for ohio)
the forecast calls for rain
the radar says it's clear
i run anyway
under heavy, overcast skies
it's misting
(not raining
but not clear)
up one street and down another
hopping over cracks in the sidewalk
waiting at intersections
endless streams of cars and bicycles
and people on the sidewalk
with their hoods up against the mist
give me a firm, brief look
and continue walking
coffee shops squeezed between bars and boutiques
brick buildings
painted wood paneling
hardwood floors and lattes
big windows, bagels, craft beer
(old hat in oregon
new buzz in ohio)
our history frames our understanding
past leads to present
i splash in a puddle
(not raining
but not clear)
the bikers and walkers splash too
but they maintain their paces
lattes and bagels in hand
heading indoors
toward hardwood floors and big windows
a concrete front stoop
from a cracked gray sidewalk
up the stairs in a tall house
to roommates and bicycles
and a new adventure
so i live in portland now.
