Under bridges blankets tarps
‘cardboard condos’
on asphalt and concrete
with little and not much,
‘Why’ sums questions and answers.
Any questions include sustainability,
economics, climate change.
Answers include
hundreds of Dignity Villages.
Remember
NOW IS HERE, TOMORROW IS MAYBE.
It’s morning in overcast Seattle.
The concrete and asphalt of Seventh at Cherry
and I-5 ramps are above, below, before, behind,
and on both sides of me.
Six sides of concrete and asphalt
“This is not a residential neighborhood.”
Victoria is housekeeping her 3’ x 5’
‘cardboard condo’ home and storage.
She continues…
…”I can show you,
if you want to go.
It is dangerous, really dangerous
The path is narrow
between concrete barrier
and speeding traffic.”
Close by is City Hall
more government
federal, local
offices
apartments
hotels
demolishment
accomplishment.
Sirens and squeal
trouble and frustrations
orchestrate the random roar
of city in motion.
24/7.
Later I talk with Victoria’s neighbor, Charles. His space tidies with an order that invokes the magical. His eclectic possessions includes a display of old National Geographic magazines. One with a cover photograph by me. We discover, then reminisce about a mutual friend with ties to Seattle’s African-American community and the old LIFE magazine. Charles knew him in Seattle as ‘Gordy’. I knew him in New York as Gordon Parks, revered photojournalist, author, composer and film director. “Yes, there is a story, a long story, a very, very long story…sometime we’ll talk.” Charles reaches for 
his broom. Storying is set aside. “So much traffic, so much grit and dust, I sweep this section of road every few hours so we don’t breathe it.”
Now is here. Tomorrow is maybe.
“Yes, I know.”
Now is here. Tomorrow is maybe.
“Yes, I know.”
Now is here. Tomorrow is maybe.
“Yes, I know.”
“Yes, I know.”
