I took my break for dinner,

A rejected sandwich,

On the back loading dock

At the kitchen out at Hunter's Point,

  

I can feel the wind

I see the way it touches the bay

Just before sunset,

The colors starting to change

To sherbert tones of raspberry and orange


Three birds flew past in formation

A tattered flag to the left

Waving in the breeze

Their wings beating as one

I followed them as far as sight could go


Not long after, over the building,  

One of the three came flying back

Its wings beating harder,

Gliding an instant, waiting an instant,

Course-correcting and beating west

towards Candlestick, the hills, and the open ocean  



It was going somewhere, I knew

It was not aimless, but

It’s harder on your own

Its whole being in motion  



The clouds moved across the sky

The wind blew through ceaselessly

Up the bay, San Francisco and Oakland  

Swathed in pink cotton candy

As the city lights start to take effect



Break is almost over

My heart quietly beats

Waits a moment, changes course

Goes on alone