Talking to an orange striped cat
Bright lime eyes speaking to me
But I was told to never pet a stranger
So I merely look down and turn
As she steps out
Black hair bunned, sun wrinkled skin
Young Black girl with sleepless gaze
Barfing up daydreams
About a Bangladesh cat in coyote country
Gossiping about an English teacher
When she snaps to
A boy hit by a speeding car
Just a block from our school
I saw it all
A screech, a tear, a sudden drop
He flips ten feet, then falls
Awful, elastic, and still
Maybe twelve, maybe thirteen, maybe dead
All shouting in amazement
Others falling in entertainment
The teachers run
The children gape
I stop
The world to a halt
Call everyone I know
Tense rising
Until I spot it
Talking to an orange striped cat
Bright lime eyes speaking to me