Orange

They've stopped on the side.
One step forward;
and a smash against the pavement
combines with a cold rush.
The framework crumbles to its knees.

Wet streams on his face
and he can't taste whether
they are tears or blood.
The light overwhelms.
For eternity, he is blind.

Concrete against his back,
still warm from April sun.
Scorched oil fills every sense;
He hears a woman speaking
and then it all breaks apart.

Memories of feet on old bricks,
the ghost walked ahead so calmly.
Look up to see stars on a backdrop of blue;
if we were where he was from,
the sky would be a raven's wing.

At every turn and every stretch,
he was always a bit behind.
Now he's trying to catch up
when there's nothing
to catch up to.

We've stopped on the side.
One step forward...
And every memory
comes crashing
down.

~*~