scissor sisters

                  the other day, a hot day, a sweltering day, one of those days when we should lie under the trees and catch drips from popsicles instead of venturing into the asphalt oven of civilization
                  pushing my way out the doors of the mall twisting shoulders to slip between clusters of preteens, ducking to avoid flailing arms gesturing with too much excitement, chipped painted nails soaring above my head and faces chattering frantically, glistening with layers of makeup
                  glancing side to side surveying the crowd the sun beating down the noise engulfing me i fumble for a moment then slip on my headphones choose a song am transported
                  i stride through the crowd feeling at once part of it and surrounded by a bubble of myself maneuvering through families and couples and friends and people people people, shutting out their noises and filling myself with more pleasing ones, ones that transform the situation
                  later, sitting on the hot metal counter at work, throwing out songs and stories with a coworker, i describe it and he says, "no i get it, it's like the camera zoomed out and there you were in the crowd, you still in focus and centered but surrounded by a sea of people. the song gave the zooming out."
                  it gives a taste of humanity, a detachment, a significance and poignancy unmatched by their reality...distracted and deterred by appearances and sounds and personas, i'm pushed away, i take myself back. plug in a song to my head and i'll give them a chance, i'll see their beauty, i zoom out and give them another look.