lost in the crowd

there are geniuses among

us.

but we don't know.

they are lost in the crowd.

they might be pumping gas.

stocking shelves.

cutting grass.

lying flat, drunk and broke

on skid row.

the brilliant minds

and talents

of the world aren't always

out front.

aren't in the news.

on shows.

not at all, 

in fact i saw a grocery

clerk the other

who had that gleam

in her eye.

i could see the brilliance

she possessed

in the way her hands moved,

the way

her lips parted

when she took a breath.

the way she held herself

above the grey

of her life,

above the struggle,

above the rest.