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The Intersection

Bill Bank

In the Mission District
Of San Francisco
A young black  man
Is Waiting to cross the street/ 

I am a few steps behind him/ 
When a pickup truck stops/
Blocking his way/

Inside/ 
Two white men/ 
Yelling and cursing/
At him/

I reach the intersection/
The men/ 
Still there/ 
Are large/
Intimidating
I am intimidated/


The young man/ 
Now beside me/ 
Does not move/
Does not  speak/
As they hurl insults and threats/ 

I do not speak to him/ 
Or to the men/
I am silent, frozen/ 

In minutes/
Probably 10 or 15/
The driver 
Restarts the pickup/
Rounds the corner/ 
And they are gone/

For several more minutes/
We remain standing together/
Not moving
Not speaking
Not even a glance/
 
He turns and walks away from me/


​

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Bill Bank is a writer and retired journalist living in Oakland CA. He focuses on poetry, prose, autobiography, and photography. He holds an undergraduate degree in philosophy and a master's in journalism. He has been coping with Alzheimer's for 20 years and occasionally writes about it. ​
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  • Home
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