and the garbage collector was listening to a Neil deGrasse Tyson podcast

at first I thought
my neighbours
down the street
were saying their 
morning goodbyes. 

strange to hear
voices echoing
outdoors 
at 6:30 AM. 

'I remember distinctly there was some instructors 
who just had such a facility with words …'

not so strange
though, 
I thought, 
that I was
raking leaves
at sunrise. 

grey morning,
rain was 
imminent, 
yard work
had to be
done.

'…and sentences and humor and tenor, where I said to myself ⁠— 
I knew I was interested in the universe from age nine…'

somewhere
on the block 
I could hear
the groan 
and grind
of the 
garbage truck. 

the frequent 
speed up
and slowdown squeal
meant that my pick
up would be
soon,
but not too. 

'...so I’m already there. All right?'

at the bend 
I can see 
the fluorescent front
of a big truck, 
internal speakers
defy dawn.

in the low 
light I can see
someone dashing
from driver's side
to curb and back.

'So this is not a matter of, “They got me interested.”  '

the person slows
as they board
the truck.

the dash lights
reveal a thoughtful
pause and a nod
and a gauzy 
gaze 
out the windshield.

'No, I’m already there.'




Excerpts from The Tim Ferriss Show and 
https://tim.blog/2019/10/15/neil-degrasse-tyson-transcript/amp/
'Words' from Neil deGrasse Tyson