man in the crowd

watch him disappear into the crowd
the wood?
who fell the tree
like a crazy lumber jack when the wind
blowing in the wrong direction
the wind?
a pine needle carpet at his feet
the dead woodpecker never
got to finish
interior decorating
a dead hand raised
couldn’t hold it long enough
no right to be here anymore
never elbow smashing
too important to the day
put this away like summer clothes
on the first day of fall
who fell?
everything and nothing
becoming opposite ends of the same rope
pull back go home
sit in the stew
with all the veteran carrots and celery
he is the lone potato
heavy metal dull blade
initiates his neck
something awful
just ahead now
the man in the crowd
trying to follow his speed
lost in the ocean of others. . .