I walk along the city streets with care,
avoiding glances—cracks within cement.
I pass the homeless, all agéd and spent,
but grant no smile: alive and unaware.
I go in silence past the fateful stare
of each calm, knowing, standby simple gent,
whom on my striding focused: quite intent.
I tried to find a kind glimpse—none were there.
Then into one shop I happened to glance,
and noticed great hope: faith, inside her smile.
A simple, fair woman, she gave no chance,
to each person who passed in civic style.
She cared not for the sidewalk’s urbane dance,
yet strolled through the alleys once-in-a-while.