i felt it for a microsecond–
the thrill of escape
saw an impossible future
in the gold flakes of a woman’s dress
in the unfolding of curtains
beneath the street singer’s closed eyelids
in a group of girls, their hair dancing to the same rhythm
as they paraded the streets
in my uncle’s collection of books
skyscraping through his apartment
his blue leather shoes, skipping in delight
as he cut me another slice of expensive cheese
poured me a glass of honey wine
asked me about my favorite books
about my passions, no, my true passion
and i felt it again, gliding through time square
a thousand different realities unfolding with the burning city
and i kept it like a secret
glass buildings quietly blooming in my closed palms