How To See A City For The First Time

If you have money in your pockets:
take it out, put it somewhere.

Take a long walk while the light dies:
move slowly past the restaurant
windows where people have gathered
for what's between them and a bottle
of red -- make eye contact with as
many of these people as you can.

Come up with enough of someone's
coin for one cup of black coffee:
since it's all you have, sip.

Go when it's still cold but beginning
to warm or else warm but cooling down:
go between things and seasons.

Be as quiet as you can that first night
and keep moving after thoughtful pauses:
in the bright morning, your bills back
in your pocket, now you'll know
where you want to be,
all the doors you should go in.