as people
crane their necks
in restaurants at
the sound of breaking glass,

so
some came to hear him
spill his words.
he did not consider them fans,
more like
rubberneckers at an accident.

he asked me why i
wrote, and i
answered him:

because
i breathe.

i asked him,
in return,
if he would like
a ride to the airport.

no, i can’t,
he said,
i can’t face another
audience, another
conference.

instead, we walked down
to the river

where a wet flier
found on the ground said:

“Learn to Speak
So That Everyone Listens”