50 People - 14 Poem by Raj Dronamraju

14

And I watched the one we'd nicknamed Peter Pan slowly make his way down the street
With his shopping cart full of personal belongings
Telegraph Avenue, Berkeley California,1979

And I watched the one we'd nicknamed Peter Pan show too much public affection for the mannequin he kept well-dressed and seated prominently in his shopping cart

And I watched a policeman tap him on the shoulder gently with a billy club
And caution his mental illness from going too far out

And I watched Peter Pan, homeless, a cross-dresser but still with facial hair, kiss his mannequin full on the plastic lips and continue on
Telegraph Avenue, Berkeley California,1979