A VIEW FROM THE RIVER 

High over the Hudson
they saw him at dawn
having climbed all night
to a good spot for jumping
And people came and aimed their cameras
at the airy figure, the god in the girders

A priest stuck in traffic
climbed heavenward to see him
but he wanted his girlfriend
from the skyscrapers of Manhattan
that had stood up to watch
from the hazy distance

When he threatened to jump
everyone cheered him
as if he were sport, the final act
of a tragic circus
And when his name was released
by beleaguered officials
a life got created
out of gossip and guesses
from fragments and hearsay
and a neighbor who admitted
she never once saw him

They dug out his girlfriend
from the haze of Manhattan
fragile and nervous
in front of the cameras
but he’d climbed for her beauty
and he clambered down to hold her
She seemed then to love him
as the crowd applauded
(and policeman took over)
He was handcuffed, she hugged him
her hero and savior
who was then hustled off
for “observation”

An almighty god
who had reached for the stars
but then chose to fall
all the way back
down to earth
and to her

– Published in ‘Exit 13’ Literary Magazine