My Beat

Past the derelict mattress

and the overgrown pavement

over the tracks

and through the hole in the fence

Past graffiti-bright buildings

and the junkyard alarm bell

and the screaming police cars

and it's all present tense

It's my beat

In my new town

Past the drunk woman reeling

with her bag of provisions

Down through the tunnel

with the stink-fuming bus

On to the bike path

where it's something like freedom

and the wind in my earring whispers

Trust what you must

It's my beat

In my new town

Ancient and always

The wheel's ever whirling

Today I'm riding

Tomorrow I walk

Step through forever

into this very moment

The heart is pumping

and the heart rocks

It's my beat

In my new town