A one-legged janitor at the shopping plaza pushes his cart down the gleaming corridor. He’s got a fancy prosthesis and his own sound system—the greatest hits of yesteryear—“Dancing in the Street,” “I’m a Believer,” “Baby Love.” My feet can’t help but move to the beat. As he passes me, I give a thumbs-up, “Great tunes!” His smile widens. Another man chimes in, “That song’s almost as old as me.” All day long, snatches of bygone lyrics drift through my head.

keyless entry my horse with no name

Cynthia Anderson

A California resident for more than 40 years, Cynthia Anderson is the author of 13 poetry collections, most recently The Far Mountain (The Wise Owl Publications, 2024), Arrival (Sheila-Na-Gig Editions, 2023), and Full Circle (Cholla Needles Press, 2022). Her poems appear frequently in journals and anthologies, and her work has been nominated for the Pushcart Prize and Best of the Net. Cynthia is co-editor of the anthology A Bird Black As the Sun: California Poets on Crows & Ravens (Green Poet Press).

Author’s website: www.cynthiaandersonpoet.com