4:17 AM

Twenty minutes to the

airport. No rush.

Next, please.

At 4:17

the city keeps one eye open

A bus turns empty

under a yellow light

Someone is washing glasses

someone is counting

change

Someone just got the message

they waited for all night

I’m downstairs. Give me five minutes.

Somewhere a door is closing

somewhere a kettle sings

Somebody’s going home

somebody’s just beginning

At 4:17

we’re all awake for different reasons

You miss someone I miss the train

He works until the morning

she doesn’t want to sleep

And somewhere in this city

a baby learns to breathe

4:17

still awake

4:17 still awake (still awake)

go home

come home

not yet

(not yet)

The nurse takes off her gloves

the baker turns the ovens on

A cleaner hums a melody

she doesn’t know the name of

A boy behind a screen says “one more game” A woman at

the window

deletes a message writes it again

Almost there.

Can’t sleep.

Call me tomorrow.

Morning already? Somewhere the first train moves

before the sky turns blue

A thousand private endings

a thousand things to do

Terminal two?

Blood pressure’s good. I’m sorry.

Morning. Mom? Yeah, I’m still here.

still here

almost home five minutes

good morning don’t hang

up I’m coming

wait for me

For one minute

none of us are strangers

Just lights

left on

in different rooms

At 4:17 the city holds us without asking

No one knows who else is awake

Someone leaves someone arrives

Someone changes their mind And somewhere past the buildings morning starts without

a sound 4:17

still awake

4:17

Morning.