Before the heat, running time, jogging time,
They run, they jog, bodies examined,
Showers, grains and yogurt, blended juices,
Suits later, the offices, banks, electronic messages ….
Sometimes the runners step aside,
Off the curb, or onto the sidewalk
Because twos, threes and fours
Of short dark people:
Hondurans.
Nicaraguans.
More Central Americans.
And taller dark people:
Afro-Americans.
They’re clogging the exercisers’ way -
So brief detours they make
While the building cleaners,
Food workers,
Construction workers,
Walk, rapidly, to the
Towers where the night’s
Lights are dimming,
Morning white starting ….
The runners, wires to heads,
Are sweating, checking watches,
Pulse counters ….
The dark people:
Tool belts, lunch sacks,
Their sweat, later ….
