to see the sun rise over san juan

(March 2022. My first weekend at Skyway in Old San Juan. I was up all night wandering around, observing tourists partying, and talking with Alton about my dreams. As I was going to bed I realized the sun was about to rise, so I climbed onto the roof, and then onto a higher roof over the stairwell. The view was amazing in every direction, and even though it was dangerous I felt amazing.)

to be awake still in san juan 623 am
to hear the wild roosters which roam the old cobblestone streets
to climb to the top of the turquoise house
over viejo san juan by way of the sky
to stand on a thin ledge of white on the edge of the highest roof
to not fear the wind
to hear la perla still partying as saturday persists
to see houses of every color in a city that is more than america and other
to see waves crashing into the island from endless gray and blue
to hear the waking birds like slow laser beams
to find the temperature still perfect
to find the clouds like islands
to find the city in the distance gray
to see a cruise ship arriving in the port
to think of a girl far away who likes my poetry and likes to write poetry
to hear construction starting
to hear people and music passing below
to hear an owl hooing close
to hear the owl again real and close
to feel the freshness of wind from endless ocean
to feel myself totter and catch myself on the ledge
to feel the knife’s edge between my dreams and my nightmares
to feel that all of my dreams will come true
to feel gratitude as if for the first time
to feel the promise of paradise
to see the dark green mountains lushing
to see bursts of rain far over mountains
to see bursts of rain over part of san juan
to see golden light spray a honey mist
to see bursts of pink play over the sea
to see clouds gray and purple and pink
to see the sky bluing and bluing brighter like a prayer received
to see the sun rise over san juan
to see a new dawn with these strange wide eyes