Do you see the old people
waving and smiling at us
they know their own     if there is a slow lane

we're walking it      did you read yesterday's paper
an old man in gramercy park
fell      cracked his head open and died

on the uneven sidewalk
you've never fallen     but I've noticed
how stiffly you get up    how slowly you walk

I've fallen twice in 6 months
first over a tree well     falling on cement
my left arm raised inexplicable

over my head     next on a small ledge
between the hall and kitchen

flat on my back      can you tell me

how careful I must be
to avoid death     will death grab you
by the shoulders     push you to the edge

of the subway platform      while the F train
barrels into the station       will death
twirl me around    hands at my waist

and waltz me in perfect four four time
to purgatory