A Hug of People

We didn't know the guy 

in the truck 

who's that guy? 

my sister asked, 

and I wondered if city people 

expected to know everyone 

they saw around town. 

I just saw a woman in the locker room,  

she's known me since before I knew what knowing meant 

she's the one who asked if the kid was my boyfriend 

that time I saw her skiing 

he wasn't, 

but that's the kind of thing you don't keep quiet 

around here. 

And when I told the woman checking me in at the gym 

my name 

she nodded like 

of course it was me 

I never go to the gym 

but the gym lady knows me too. 

It's soft like a pillow 

and comfortable like knowing the leaves will get orange in October 

having a big hug of people 

around me.