Strangers
casting

shadows
on pavement,

reflections
in puddles

and store
glass fronts.

Graceful,
confident,

fast pace or
lingering

in full moon
or sun light.

Most people walk
with purpose,

determined to get
from A to B.

Others glide with
casual saunter.

Each seeming to
be on a mission,

going to
or leaving from

someplace to
somewhere,

destination
unknown.

Even before
now, I was

fascinated
by people

walking in
straight lines,

passing each
other in silence,

no greetings
exchanged

against a
blank canvas,

a perfect backdrop
for silence.

 

Janet Cormier is a painter, writes prose and poetry, and performs comedy. Janet prefers different and original over pretty. She loves collecting stuff, but cleaning not so much. Janet also talks to strangers. A lot. Her column appears weekly on Oddball Magazine.