Reflections On a Street Corner

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[This is one of my earliest poems, unfortunately, undated. I included it in my first poetry chapbook, "The Lady in the Pink Hat," Candor Press, 1969.]

In an hour a thousand pass Doctors, lawyers, truck drivers Small and fat, A straggly cat. Six ladies in elegant furs Two little boys chasing curs A tottery, old man with a cane The same scraggly cat again. The local newsboy laden down Big and small, A runaway ball, The corner cop awaiting the strike Five o'clock, the rush hour jam Wondering who I am What I'm doing--

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Gershon Wolf

Date: 5/11/2021 6:10:00 PM

'Our Town' -- updated. Nice peek at a street scene. :) gw

L Milton Hankins
Date: 5/13/2021 11:57:00 AM

Thanks, GW. I appreciated your thoughts.

John Lawless

Date: 5/11/2021 11:56:00 AM

Ah, the good old days when Mom would tell us to go out and play in the traffic and no one called child services. Hey, perhaps a follow-up poem entitled "The Last Paper Boy"....thanks for the flashback

L Milton Hankins
Date: 5/13/2021 11:56:00 AM

Thank you, John. Yep, I'm afraid those days are gone.

Sotto Poet

Date: 5/11/2021 10:49:00 AM

I enjoyed perusing this one as well, great symbolism in depicting a 1969 scene with every subtlety. I cross with you very nearly 52 years, yet the soul is practically similar in every case.

L Milton Hankins
Date: 5/11/2021 11:11:00 AM

Thanks so much for your visit, Lasaad. I'll be 80 in December. You'll probably not see doctors walking these days or small children playing near a street anymore.