The City Forgets My Name

Third floor window

Cheap blue curtain

Flicker of a screen on my face

City hum crawling up the railing

Half-warm coffee

Phone face down

Neighbors arguing through the wall

I pretend that I can’t hear my name

I’m just passing through this town again

(Shoes on the wrong feet, head in my hands)

Every street looks almost like a friend

Close, but it never really lands

If I disappear between the trains

You’ll say you knew me

But you won’t know when

I’m just passing through this town again

Long ride home

Plastic seats, gray windows

Names in marker on the glass

Some of them already fading

Late text buzzing

I don’t answer

Watch my breath fog up my face

Write “okay” then wipe it with my sleeve

I’m just passing through this town again

(Shoes on the wrong feet, head in my hands)

Every street looks almost like a friend

Close, but it never really lands

If I disappear between the trains

You’ll say you knew me

But you won’t know when

I’m just passing through this town again

Same old corner store

Same tired fluorescent halo

Cashier asks me how I’ve been

I say, “yeah” and stare at the floor

I’m just passing through this town again

(Shoes on the wrong feet, head in my hands)

Every street looks almost like a friend

Close, but it never really lands

If I disappear between the trains

You’ll say you knew me

But you won’t know when

I’m just passing through this town again