On the Sidewalk in the County Seat Forty Years Ago
i.
He saunters down the street. Purses his lips
whistles something tuneless because
well, because it’s a
Lovely spring day. There’s plenty of scenery
and always more coming along.
Isn’t that right?
Yes, it is. It’s right all right.
ii.
Lovely spring day. He said:
hey there don’t I know you from somewhere
She said:
Two words: get lost
He said:
Who me are you talking to me
She said:
You bet I am.
You heard me.
Get lost.
iii.
She crosses the street at the traffic light
flaps her hand in front of her face
as if to shoo away a fly
A gust of pink petals
from a cherry tree
making the most of its street-side location
showers her as she steps up on the curb.
Lovely spring day. It’s right all right.
4/23/19
Claudia McGill Writes Poetry, Did You Know That? 
Love this ❤️
Thank you!
I enjoyed the collision of these two personalities and their outlooks. I like to think that the shower of blossom might change the woman’s mood. We all sometimes need something to jolt us out of a bad mood after all.
I based this on several encounters in Norristown probably 40 years ago, I had to go to the courthouse for my job quite often and as I walked down the street, dressed in 1980’s business style, I always got some guy approaching me. I always wish I had said, get lost, like this lady. And then the flower blossoms would wash away the aggravation, if not the jerk who caused it.