Unmet [edit4]

[dukealien]

Unmet

Edit 4

While sidewalk-biking home I met a man
or did not meet:  the man I saw was blind.
He crabbed along, each twisting step aligned
by touch unless his sidling pace outran
the sweep and scrape of slender, questing cane
striped white and red - antenna of an ant
dark glasses first suggested.  Adamant
he scuttled, grim-set jaw rejecting pain.
I hopped the curb and rode past in the street:
did he hear clicking sprocket, whispered tires
and make of us a pair of witting liars
who passed on by, pretending not to meet?

Edit 3

While sidewalk-biking home I met a man
or did not meet - the man I saw was blind.
He crabbed along, each twisting step aligned
by touch unless his sidling pace outran
the sweep and scrape of slender, questing cane
striped white and red, antenna of an ant
dark glasses first suggested.  Adamant
he scuttled, grim-set jaw rejecting pain.
I hopped the curb and rode past in the street:
did he hear clicking sprocket, whispered tires
and make of us a pair of witting liars
who passed on by, pretending not to meet?


Edit 2

While sidewalk-biking home I met a man
or did not meet - the man I saw was blind.
He crabbed along, each twisting step a find
of safety when and if his faith outran
the sweep and scrape of slender, questing cane
striped white and red, antenna of an ant
dark glasses first suggested.  Adamant
he scuttled, grim-set jaw rejecting pain.
I hopped the curb and rode past in the street:
did he hear clicking sprocket, whispered tires
and make of us a pair of witting liars
who passed on by, pretending not to meet?


Edit 1

While sidewalk-biking home I met a man
or did not meet - the man I saw was blind.
He crabbed along, each twisting step a find
of safety when and if his faith outran
the sweep and scrape of slender, questing cane
striped white and red, antenna of an ant.
Black, bulging goggles also helped to plant
this likeness; his set jaw rejected pain.
I hopped the curb and rode past in the street:
did he hear clicking sprocket, whispered tires
and make of us a pair of witting liars
who passed on by, pretending not to meet?


original version;


This morning, riding home, I met a man
or, rather, did not meet - the man was blind.
He crabbed along, each twisting step a find
of solid sidewalk if his faith outran
the sweep and scrape of slender, questing cane
striped white and red, antenna of an ant
his round, black glasses also served to slant
my thinking to; his face rejected pain.
I hopped the curb and rode past in the street:
did he hear clicking sprocket, whispered tires
and make of us a pair of witting liars
who passed on by, pretending not to meet?