lead with a picture

around the reservoir are many white specks-
distant birds-
swept by the wind
pushed into the rocking water
streams of people, runners
furthered on a little
not by the wind- by something ahead

the city jewels the bowl of water
magnified and reduced, in close quarters
to a toy crown
with little specks of dust of people and birds
gliding in hoops, looking like playing

(one speck, moving within the bowl
gazing at backsides
imagining frontsides
grimacing or crying, gazing at backsides
--the path of a beautiful athlete
forms a chain of longing from person to person--
not knowing the link behind
spurred on by
not knowing the link ahead)

while the city is watching
looming and drawing inward by shadow
by setting sun, gems glittering less
on the dust inside