Jagged stones paved the road,
On which the people passed.
Faceless masses,
Raceless, paced… less
On talk than on walk.
Tasteful, the scene,
Tasteless the crowd.
Taste, the guide. Taste, the reward.
The shoe-shiner sitting still,
Taking the still scene.
Approached by man of plenty,
Filled with pomp and nosing like an air dale.
‘A shine for a penny?’ he offered,
And a penny he received.
A penny divides the world — to the penniless and those plentiful.
The shoe diffuse from neglect turned specular.
‘Say,’ the man began,
‘The glare caught my eye.
‘I’ve never seen my shoe so brilliant.
‘You should charge twice for that! Here,
‘Take another.’
‘Keep it,’ the man reflected.
‘I’ll receive it on a smileless day.’

Surra,
December, 2022.