i'm just passing through

short of wind,

you stop

and lean against the post.

find a step

to sit on, a wooden

plank of a fine

porch,

not your home, but

it'll do

for now in this summer heat.

and when

the door opens,

and the woman

asks

in a motherly voice,

can i help you, are you okay?

you wave

your friendly wave

and tell her, no, no,

i''m fine,

i'm just passing through.

in a minute

i'll be on my way.