I know that you are
Standing there
In your room
Thinking how beautiful
Life is
Believing that you can
Control yourself
That you can exist on a diet
Of water and air.
You are happy to be alone
Lonely, but happy.
It is inevitable
That you will remember Paris
That you will feel the luxury
Of walking down famous streets
Trying to recall
European history
Trying to be knowledgeable
Thinking that you are
Watching yourself
On a movie screen
Or that someone else
Is watching.
Trying to collect material
That will be useful later.
Eating in restaurants
Where you cannot read the menus.
Sleeping at night
Listening to the bells of
Notre Dame.
Reliving the day
With the scrutiny of
A dietitian.
Restless nights.
Morning walks
Past open markets
Popping inside cathedrals
And museums.
You study antiques and art
So spectacular
That you become
Inconspicuous
Small.
The present moment is the only reality
And standing inside your room
There is no Paris
There is no one
There is nothing at all.