EUROPEAN OBSERVATIONS
Phone booths
Located at the corner of Rochusstr and Veneloer Streets
I smile
Evident kindness of a stranger
Corn and birdseed
Left lovingly between the shelters
Out of the frigid howling wind
For the cold and hungry pigeons
A beautiful act of God’s compassion to admire
I marvel at the German work ethic
Most enjoy a thirty hour work week
Closing early on Friday
The pace
Quite relaxed and productive
In comparison to my ninety hour slavery shifts in the US
Even the street sweeper smiles
Happy and proud of his daily task
Such warm diversity
Boroughs of subtle cultural distinction
Turkish
Russian
Polish
Italian
Greek
German
Gypsies
Exotic blend of unique humanity
Ingenious entrepreneurs catch my eye
The public toilet mafia
Cologne Town Center
Ultra busy shopping district
The cleaning people
Charge anxious shoppers one euro
For use of the communal restroom
A practice quite illegal
But standard procedure
I ignore the injustice
When natures call is urgent
I search extensively for silver linings
And find them everywhere I wander
Blessings my new friends
I shall always remember your spirits
(C) Bill Grimes Jr. 2005
