engines crescendo and fall
again and again in artificial waves
buses cross before you,
pass alongside of you.
you walk by an overhang,
a boombox on the scaffold
creates a pocket of rhythm
the carpet truck whines
you barely notice
cacophony
the auditory backdrop
of city existence

you cross the street
and halt
no cars in motion, no sirens, no engines
the breeze brushes your cheek
a lover with a surprise
the sound of absence of sound
the cars in unplanned pause
you stand in disbelief
a city block glows
in the unrehearsed moment of silence