Smiling At Strangers

Smiling at strangers, or saying hello passing the time, on my walks down the street with mixed responses, from those you don’t know some stare at their phones or else at their feet Joggers those nodders, take you in their stride focussed on fitness, or some sort of race barely acknowledge that you moved aside they'll choose to refuse a look at your face Pushy young parents, oh so self-aware they hurry by without hesitation gripping their pushchairs, as though they don’t care now I worry for new generations But those with their mutts, serial walkers No ifs or buts, they're serious talkers.