A Roving Band Of Lovers Poem by Lonnie Hicks

They were a Roving Band of Lovers
kissing hands
smiling and winking.

They bowed to old ladies on the streets
over-tipped waiters
gave young girls flowers
for no reason.

They never cried;
stood on tip-toe
and invited people
to see Infinity;
did dances in the streets
and little plays in the subways;

carried around little cookie trays
made music with harmonicas.

They were a Little Band of Roving Lovers
who made strangers
the Stars
of little Street Plays
asking
'Madam who would you like to be
a star? an astronaut, a great leader?
and then they would produce the prop
and act the play
where instantly
the dream would be
and street stranger
would miraculously
become the Dream They Had Dreamed.
while others looked on.

Singers
bad, good or worse
had the audience to join in
and all songs sound good when sung in crowds.

For True Love's Wish
they produced a Satin Heart
which they passed round the crowd
where each person gave the heart
a tiny touch;

assuring that True Love would come
in time to its recipient.

They were a roving Band of Lovers
Loose on the City Streets.
They were both Real
and Fantasy.