oh, take me down to the trolley station;
i shall catch the orange line downtown,
find a bench at an intersection.
to watch all of the folks pass by.

i will not need more than a bottle of water
along with a pad of paper and a pen;
i’ll wear my straw fedora for sunshade
while sitting and watching the passer-bys.

those walking past will entertain me
with a variety of all i see:
the good, the bad, the quiet, the loud.
all different with a take on life their own.

i’ll watch them and identify with all;
parts of me i see with each walking past;
i’ve been there; i’ve done that,
good, bad, caring indifferent, all.

i will spend several hours there,
then catch the trolley back;
please pick me up, take me home;
and i will be all right.

tonight, i will have a glass with Mr. Dickel
reflecting on what i’ve seen,
those who passed by me
reminding me of what i’ve been.

it will have been a good time spent;
tomorrow will be near the same,
i won’t take the trolley downtown then;
i’ll go to the zoo instead.