The People Watchers
I took a walk not knowing where my path would lead me to,
Some quiet time, to just reflect and bid my cares adieu;
I'd concentrated long enough on me, I did suppose …
And so I cleared my mind of all my sorrows and my woes.
I came upon a courtyard, in the city's inner core,
And paused to take a rest - some time to sit and ponder more;
I sat upon a public bench, and watched the passers-by,
Alone in my oblivion, till someone caught my eye.
He wore a three-piece suit … his gaze was focused straight ahead,
A look of pure determination, touched with signs of dread;
Perhaps he'd just been fired ... or he had an interview …
I mused about his circumstance till he raced out of view.
I saw a woman side-step him … he hadn't seen her there,
It didn't seem to matter though, she didn't seem to care;
Her rapt attention focused on the child she dragged along,
I heard her grumble 'neath her breath, at something he'd done wrong.
I couldn't see his face until they walked in front of me …
He raised his head a moment, looking for some sympathy;
I looked into his eyes a fleeting second, as they passed,
Enough to feel the deep regret and sorrow, he'd amassed.
I watched them move along, and contemplated what he'd done,
Until they passed some teenagers, cavorting, having fun,
I caught the young boy glancing back ... his mother pulled him on …
Then changed my focus to the teens, to where my sight was drawn.
The girls were giggling softly, as they grabbed each others arms,
They broke into a gale of laughter, through their youthful charms,
They whispered back and forth, like two conspirators at play,
Their motions over-animated, as they moved away.
I wondered what their secrets were, and smiled as they passed by,
Enraptured with a handsome boy … who clearly caught their eye;
They peered at him … he took no notice - not a second glance
As he moved slowly past my bench, in need of no romance.
His eyes were pensive - worry lines seemed etched across his brow,
He seemed too young to have such sorrow deep within, somehow;
I wondered what his quandary was … what had him in this state …
A love, a death, a friend in need? I wondered in debate.
He moved beyond an older woman strolling rather slow,
I saw her turn toward the boy, although he did not know …
She wore a look of recognition in her aging eyes,
A look of sheer amazement, as if taken by surprise.
She slowly passed in front of me, and turned to look once more,
I heard her say beneath her breath … "Why did you go to war?"
I wondered who she meant by that - whose face he'd brought to mind,
Perhaps a husband, or a son … where mem'ries intertwined.
She shuffled past a woman with a gentle, caring face,
Who wore a kindly smile … an air of dignity and grace;
She paused and took a seat upon the bench just next to me,
And gave a little sigh that broke my silent reverie.
"I hope I'm not too forward, and I don't mean to offend … "
"Although," She said to me, "You look like you could use a friend."
"I've watched you for a little while … " She smiled and shook her head,
"And I'll admit, you've had me pondering ..." She sweetly said.
She pointed to a bench that was across from where we were,
The perfect spot to watch "me" from … though I had not seen "her";
I wondered if she'd read my thoughts, and how long she'd been there,
Just watching … as I watched the other people unaware.
"I've seen your look of deep concern, turn into sympathy,
You've had a look of worry, then of someone fancy free;
You've worn a look of sadness, and I saw a look of doubt,
And I'll admit … I've wondered what you're wondering about."
She must have watched my face reveal the thoughts within my mind,
Reflections of the stories I had mused about in kind;
She gazed at me intently, and she seemed to hold her breath,
While waiting for a story, filled with laughter, love or death.
I smiled and thanked her, as I grinned, "There's nothing wrong you see …"
"I'm simply watching people … just like you were watching me."