(Palermo) (Sicilia 44)

I have a better idea than spending money
spending the currency I’ve been bequeathed
by my own creation – time.

time to wait for crowded buses
where validating tickets becomes important
when the ticket checkers arrive.
time to find secret glares
where looking into local eyes is forbidden
when we’re all foreigners.
time to breathe ancient ashes
where the decaying, collapsing bodies exfoliate
when we push ourselves into their domain.
time to march familiar streets
where random faces fade in and out of hiding places
when I stroll by intending no harm or help.
time to appreciate the unfamiliar details
where my eyes have glazed over in anticipation
when I assume there is more to see elsewhere.
time to throw open my trust circle
where thousands melt into the layers surrounding me
when I learn to appreciate their random assistance
I have a better idea than spending money
to be fulfilled with the purchases I accumulate
freely in this life.