what to do when you are left behind

The best thing to do, in most cases,
is to stay exactly where they left you.
It would be a travesty if you went out of your way to go looking for them
for they might not be in any of the places you imagine them to be. Just remember
to stay close to the sidewalk
else you might be pulled in by crowds of lonely faces and you'll lose whatever is left of yourself.
It is also important that you check
how you look from time to time.
You should know that you are not expected to change
into any other form , size, or color. There are so many things about you that
should remain as they were - your complexion, the soft whispering gestures of your hands,
the light tilt in your laughter.
Avoid talking to strangers. Some may like you and convince you to believe that
you don't have to stay where you are
for there are new salvations everywhere, everyday
selling like hotcakes on street corners
but you don't want to go through the agonizing process of coming and leaving.
You tell yourself that it's a different hunger this time so you'd rather wait it
out. If you can, you should avoid looking at watches owned by passersby. To you, time should be
as irrelevant myth. When you get lonely, you can twiddle your thumbs. Or you can talk to yourself. It would be
wonderful if you have managed to bring a book with you. Just remain still.
Wait.
And when they, by a trick of memory, remember their leaving
and decide to return,
You will relish the look on their faces when you say,
Look, I am as unchanged as dusk.