A prayer

I'm fine
I'm fine
I'm fine

I clutch the words with sticky fingers
and wrap them round the cold air

Until they are
an anthem
a mantra
a prayer.

Ribbons of letters tied tight
to the earth from my skin and
suddenly taut against a stranger
who says "sorry" and I answer

I'm fine.

I barely felt the knock
of human to human.
The contact.
I'm fine.