Big people, like on TV
documentaries. Don’t show
their faces, show their asses.
I see their broken smiles and
their shirt buttons. Holding hands,
forging a wide path.
Then come the more agile
street bums with enormous,
tricked-out backpacks, one with a
tiny dog on a leash, and the other
with a middle-sized mutt, also
on a leash.
FREAK.
They look back and begin making
an assessment through dissertation,
and then a short man with funny, perfect
black hat, immaculate
black suit,
SHATTERING
white shirt, holding orange balloon,
and then lady in grocery-
store-like electric wheel chair. She knifes
through the humidity at twelve
M P H, crushing through
the orange hand
STOP
signal. The big bus stops awkwardly.
The bus does not hit her.
The bus is long and it bounces
with braking and it twists.
stillfugue 
#1 by scribbla on July 14, 2011 - 4:34 am
I really, really enjoy reading your work. Primarily because of the snippets of a city worlds away from me. You always draw me right there – I can see the scene, feel it, smell it. Almost reach out and touch it. And the manner in which you do it – the glasses you wear in your words – reminds me so much of how I would most likely see the scene. Great stuff!
#2 by Carl on July 14, 2011 - 10:33 pm
Andrew, you are very kind to stop by and read and say such generous things. I’m very lucky that you are able to see it.
#3 by Claudia on July 14, 2011 - 1:29 pm
the sidewalks in the cities seem to give endless material for poems…love how you described it…She knifes
through the humidity at twelve…i like
#4 by Carl on July 14, 2011 - 10:36 pm
Thank you, Claudia! You are very good to read and comment. I appreciate it.
#5 by Kay Camden on July 15, 2011 - 9:38 am
Yep. Great scene. I know it well. I felt like I was on my everyday walk after work. The only thing missing was the fresh running puddle of urine on the sidewalk from the new bum who’s just taken residence in the unused doors of Macy’s.
#6 by Carl on July 17, 2011 - 10:33 am
Yes, Kay, I did forget about the unused doors at Macy’s. Thanks for your comment.