A Visit

I pushed a call-button on the gate
that must have rung a bell
a lamp at the entryway came on
and I heard “who is it?”
all of a sudden a dog began to bark
a child began to cry
a voice, perhaps a mother’s, scolded
I sensed something tumbling down onto the floor
a plane roared passing above my head
I collected myself with a deep breath and said
“I am Mr. Sugiyama.”

A VISIT