it was cold this morning

and i stepped into the icy air without a jacket

without gloves, no scarf and no purpose

just started walking, followed the streets through the city

had my headphones in, some soft guitar strumming

some soft swooning

perfect soundtrack to slow pacing

unintentional, just wandering

like a little wisp of smoke

floating off the end of a burnt-up cigarette

joining the clouds from smokestacks, factories, car exhausts

spreading out over the city

over the little quiet houses,

over lines of children waiting for school buses

over university dorms, over traffic and trees,

over lakes, the animals and the inmates

and

reaching out into the city, i roam

stepping over worn pavement,

over cracks in cobblestone, over old footprints

crossing paths with the past

settling, sliding, squeezing between rows of

houses, people, space

i meander, wander to find a peaceful place