Pedestrian, Distinguished

This puddle reverses you but not in a fun-house way, more a universe of parallel clarity
& everywhere blue skies.

Pedestrian, distinguished, how the asphalt opens
a path for your passing as cloud puffs,
& bubbles well a silvery cosmos
between the bluing white to caution-yellow
crosswalk &, opposite, such good
slate-like bricks.

In so many global places
you could be any woman of a particular class
with your plastic shopping bag & practical head scarf.

Such hooded profiles should be launched, voyager,
proud on prows of ships for every immigrant
having taken a stand, simple, dignified:

I have arrived. Please welcome what I bring,
my presence a present
beyond doubt, belief, bias, documents.