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The Disillusionment of the Sidewalk
Are sidewalks even safe anymore?
“We can all see the cracks in the sidewalks, and roadways, yet we fail to see the cracks in humanity.”
— Anthony T. Hincks
I see things on a sidewalk that shouldn’t be seen on a sidewalk, lest I be called street smart. But where else am I to see such bizarre deeds, other than on the disillusioned safety of the sidewalk? I don’t think these things would be tolerated anywhere but the sidewalks. Let me draw it out for you…
Homeless man
I walk by and give him a nod like usual, but today he’s naked. Normally he at least has on a hat and maybe even a sock. He even at times has on pants, albeit rigid pants that need a washing, but pants nonetheless. But not today. Today he feels like being exposed — completely and utterly stark naked — for the entire world to see, should they be so compelled to scratch that itch of curiosity. So he’s naked, on the sidewalk upon which I walk, for [me] to see. To see it all. To see him all.
Love birds
The birds drown out the humdrum of the buses driving by as they make love to one another in the streets of downtown, quite possibly even silencing the neighborly cats that typically frolic about the sidewalk. But the cars and the buses then force the love birds to…
