People Watching Poem by Michael Anthony Hernandez

Hundreds of parading facades
their stories masking

hope
heartbreak
new love
an impending loss
peace and serenity
suicides in the making
passing time
nicely playing together
within their social roles

parading disguises
each seeking to either
survive can to can
or shamelessly wasting
escorting fluffy pets
between tea and crumpets

In love or in loneliness
in stride or in careful pace
the children and the aged
toting walking canes or teddy bears
politely exchanging
if only for the day

And I
well I am simply
absorbing it all
a member of
community
society
a simple human being
simply being
still

oblivious not
that I too as such
am being
perceived and judged