Private Sky
A voice comes down from the cloud,
I listen quietly, the gate closes behind.
Standing here, watching the still, delicate blue sky.
Until a guard who wears a reflective vest,
Appears behind. He waves,
"You cannot take photos here."
"This is a private place"
I stand on the street, listening,
He yells that this place is private.
I look toward the clothing stores on both sides,
They watch me from behind their windows,
"Arrest me then, please,
For taking photos under the sky."
Standing there, watching the running clouds
And the flowing, lazy people, the street.
I face the guard, smiling,
I know he has no gun in hand.
What he wears at his waist is called awkwards,
What he wears is the authority called private,
For this place,
He shouts at me, swinging his hand,
I smile back, without uttering a word.
Laughter escapes from the shadows like bats.
A couple, now shooting photos through the glass windows,
Displaying intimate postures in this place.
He quickly walks away, then, to shout at them,
Under this private blue sky.
Cite as: Dai Pan, "Private Sky," Three Worlds, Their World, poem 15, 2025. https://daipan.ink/their-world/private-sky