watching at distance

poem written in response to Quarter Crazy, November 15, 2025 Marathon

sitting with strangers on a bench looking 
looking across water in two blue shades
shades marked sharp edged in discreet molecules
molecules suspended in still water

water exchanging liquid with dark clouds
clouds gathered brooding a change of weather
weather that predicted itself sulking
sulking as four strangers sit silently

silently each debating why they sit 
sit uncomfortably crowded without
without knowing the answer or question
question irrelevant as storm gathers

gathers in a shrinking distance warning
warning silence will not save anyone
anyone failing to see dry grass call
call for release of necessary rain