zillions

each one of these people,

the lone teenage boy

the stern, stocky matron

the hungry young girl

the man with his bike and bags

the bold older woman with her copper hair,

leopard print, and sneakers

 

each one

and the rest

are living in their own unique, singular universe of reality and imagination -

some in multiple dimensions,

some overlapping with other persons'

 

i look

i see what i can

i sense what i can

and what i can't

 

i try to make eye contact

to fearlessly acknowledge

recognition and regard

respect

for what i can

what i can't,

with who i can

and many i can't

 

sometimes it makes me feel

incredible loneliness

so vast

and yeah, existential

that i burst into a zillion pieces

inside

over and over and over again

each moment

 

sometimes i feel

connection and joy

so infinite and complete

there's nothing i can do

but to appear strange, crazy

maybe even scary

to these people

as i smile and radiate

basking in their heat and light,

reflecting it back

zillions and zillions and zillions

each moment

 

 

 

Done