A man in a suit
sells newspapers and fresh fruit
daily
walking car to car
at the corner of
55th and Woodland
Daily
I drive a five-mile stretch of city road
that passes 28 churches — now 29
a new warehouse-turned-worship-center
is pouring fresh asphalt
hot under the summer sun
Girls with bright hair clips
walk to school
holding hands
backpacks bouncing
while buses clutter the commute
and the RTA train mocks
the stopped traffic
daily
I watch
their paths, my paths
our collective ways
sidewalks and tracks and potholed roads
daily crisscrossed and rejoined
You know our paths, O God
coming and going
walking, driving, riding
Guide our steps and our ways
Keep our paths crissed-
and-crossing
daily
O LORD, you are acquainted with all our ways. (Psalm 139:3)