i walk on the edge of the crowd, seeing you all in it.

trying to connect, i spill my stories.
i pull you out of the current and we tell tales.
letting you into my mind is its own reward,
though i wouldn't mind peeking into yours.

having seen the machines inside you i'm consoled
knowing i'm not alone in my bitter automaton.

but now the crowd migrates without you.
rushing to get back to your place, regain pace.
memories are missed with the time lost,
and you had to work to reclaim space.

i don't want to hold back those i admired in the first place.

back outside the tide, i resist the urge to dive.
gazing at the faces and imagining their insides.
then i catch others staring back, continuing on
scanning me as if from outside the swarm.

we're all on edges of the crowd, seeing each other fit.