- By Caitlin Bergevin (she/her)
- Art “Starry Night” by Madeline Miller (she/her)
I want to ask you what there is to do in San Francisco when alone;
Chow Fun in Chinatown and hikes up Hawk Hill.
I want to ask you what you do in San Francisco when you’re alone;
Ferry to Sausalito and back by sunset
Pretty woman down Haight.
I want to ask you what I can do in San Francisco when I’m alone
so you know that I am alone in San Francisco and you think about what there is to do with me,
who is alone,
but you and I will both do no such thing.
I took seven alternating steps on the crosswalk so as to only touch the white lines
and was approached by two women who spoke of toddler death from cars and mayors.
I did not sign their petition,
because I am prone to saying no,
and regretted it for weeks after.
I took eight steps on the crosswalk (missed a white line)
and saw you exiting the corner Safeway.
Injured dogs and protracted intakes of breath do not a tragic person make,
But I felt it just the same.