Day 3 - A Poem For Free

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Just a reminder: It's okay to leave comments!

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Yeah, I did it again with the title. Sorry.

This is a free-form poem taken right from the streets of Washington, DC.

Every day I pass a man who sit on the corner of K and 15th streets. He is the unofficial greeter of McPherson Square. For those unfamiliar with DC, that is just a few blocks north of the White House. It can be cold and rainy or pleasant and sunny, but he's there each morning with a smile and a polite, if loud, welcome.

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And there he is, sitting by the stop light, 

made famous by Google Street View...

The Good Morning Man

He's an early riser for sure,
Already at his spot by the time I get off the subway
From Union Station.

I can hear him two blocks away:
"Good morning! Good morning!"

The greeting pierces the chill air over McPherson Square,
And as the young professionals zoom by on their rented bikes,
He greets every passing pedaler*.

Though mostly indifferent to his efforts, he still calls out:
"Good morning! Good morning, bicycle ri-ders!"

I wave to him and he says "Good morning, sir!"
I smile. He does, too, before continuing his routine
For the next group of sleepy-faced commuters.

Most walk past with their faces buried in a smartphone.
"Good morning! Good morning!"

He never begs for money, or refuses an offer.
Disturbingly happy, perhaps he knows the answer
While the rest of us are still searching for the right question.

As I continue on to work, I hear him behind me and think about that.
"Good morning. It's Fri-day!"

And so it is.
A good morning.
And Friday.


                      K.R. Smith

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* Oddly, the word pedaler is missing from many dictionaries (like Blogger's spell checker), but it is in The Free Dictionary.

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© 2012-2016 K. R. Smith All rights reserved