Soot

years later you see soot everywhere
pretending to be invisible but touch
yields accumulation on a fingertip
dragged across a surface
be it wood or conversation or dream or leaf
from a bush in your backyard
for a leaf is the dream of a platter
as your voice was once your feelings
(remember that?)
it’s everywhere in your city air
the remains of burned-out things
it doesn’t go away it floats
it dreams through night air
downtown at noon when bodies press
through sooty street and subway
(as above so below)
just look at the city
be honest
all is soot of surrendered things
just think: love too leaves a soot
from the original fires it was
and deployed
oh be real
remember the many cities
you torched