busy

people mass, city breathes
magnets pull, busy streets
from far away
looks like constant flow
hypnotic rhythms
stop and go

but further in
zoomed up close
see her over there,
eyes open but vacant stare
she's moving alright
but only half of her's there
other half's already where
she's going to
and isn't sure if she cares
enough to make it

or see him on the bench
looking up at his mate
jerky movements
all elbows and angles in haste
keeps looking over his shoulder
case anyone's watching -
not sure if he wants them
to or not,
not sure what he wants
and you better not fucking ask
just leave me alone
i don't need your advice alright?

or that one holding their kid's hand tight
watching the lights -
red means stop,
and now we can go
these are the rules kiddo
that's what we do
just follow me and you'll be okay.
and then later,
when the kid's asleep
stares empty at moving shapes on TV

people mass, busy streets
get your coffee to go, get your train
check your facebook and messages,
check them again,
check your bag is held in close
keep your head looking down
and your headphones in

and you're only allowed to stand still on the street
if you're waiting for someone or a bus or at traffic lights
or holding a phone or a fag in your hand
red means stop, green means go
you need to keep moving now,
don't be too slow

she said she ain't got time to see me
i said no one's got time
time's got us
wrapped around it's little finger
warped with space in lines and curves
that quiver like a rubber band
almost as fast as light but not quite -
and if the speed of time
is relative to the speed of an object -
and if the object's place in space
depends on how fast you're moving -
why don't you try slowing down
and see how the world looks that way?

she said i feel like i'm running
just to stand still
i said put on your shoes
and get out the door
feel the air on your cheeks
your feet on the floor
of these precious streets
and this precious ball
that we call earth
even if it will always feel flat to you -
you don't need to think of that -
you need to feel
the strength of your muscles
the angles of bones
a pounding heartbeat
and full-up lungs
the power of going as fast as you can
until it feels like it was enough
and exhausted, you can let yourself stop
and sink into wherever you land
and i'll be waiting
with a glass of water in hand
and we'll watch the rhythms in constant flow
and we'll decide when it's time to go