Kinds of people - Audio and text

 

Kinds of people

Bert Haverkate-Ens

There are many kinds of people,

but only two shall concern us here.

I am one

and she is another.

I step with deliberate step

my forehead furrowed,

my eye squinting for the upcoming curb.

My briefcase is worse for wear,

the zipper separating from the faded leather,

the many marks on leather,

also showing marks,

my gnarled hand grasping

to hold everything together.

“On your left,”

her voice, strong and bright,

and without a glance, I held out

my free hand to pass her through.

Quicksmart she sped, narrow wheels

spinning, her jeans taut,

lining her hip and down her leg,

pumping the pedal ‘round,

gaining speed,

then only her hair like a flag

of vigor waving from the far end

of the bridge, and she had blurred

off into the future.

I trundled on, my hand

empty at my side.

I, one kind of people,

she, another.