Alive At This Time Poem by Margaret Alice Second

Marching at full speed to where I'm picked up
after work, caught in a melée of charging figures
and taxis who wait at green lights then drive off
as soon as the robot turns red bearing down on
me who set off at the right time - with nervous
distress growing worse and dodging stalls taking
up three-quarters of the pavement & pedestrians
shuffling single file past shop entrances and

Passengers alighting from buses blocking the way,
I lost all ease of mind until deciding to start walking
down another street and lo, a nice place - shady
trees and wide sidewalks and taxi's parked, restful
at standstill and I can pass without having to charge
past loiterers blocking the space - finally, I'm at home
in the new building, my road home is safe and good
for my soul; thank heaven - now at least

I can walk in peace thinking thoughts of joy instead
of lamenting at being alive at this time…