The Sidewalk Scene

All the world's joys

All the world's woes

Are in transit today

Where the foot traffic goes.

Stand for a moment,

Behold the parade

In shuttling passage;

See every facade

Of mortal anxiety

Mirrored in mass.

Hear the shuffle and stride

As they zigzag and pass.

This sidewalk humanity

Makes you aware

They have one thing in common:

They're going somewhere!

But the riddle remains

To encumber your mind:

Where are they going

And what will they find

At the end of the errance,

The end of the street?

Ah, the secret is theirs,

In whatever retreat,

When they take off their shoes

To relax their poor feet.

(First published in Along the Lane: Dedicated to the memory of Thomas William Larsen, who lost his life in World War II)