11/23/2003

He sat
in the middle
of the road
having failed
to crest the mountain
his head
held up by
his hands
blood
streaming down his face
too dazed
to check for broken bones
vaguely aware of
first one
then another woman
passing by
eyes averted
no inquiry
about his fall
too afraid
even empowered
to risk getting involved
and
who can blame them
out in the middle
of nowhere
where
anything can happen.