Jumper

A poem (Content note: obliquely references suicide)

We went out walking in the city,
late,
because when the savage god is hunting,
movement helps
a change of scenery helps
or that’s what they say.

You can take a pill to save your mind,
or one to save your heart.
Not both.
So which am I more afraid of losing?

A dance party broke out
at the plaza on the inner harbor
salsa
strangers moving in one another’s arms,
a boom box you could hear from all the way
across the water.

The police came, barricaded the road
I looked back and there was a man
standing at the apex
of the long white bone of Blue Bridge,
even though the music was loud
and everyone was dancing.