All Else Stopped
by Carl Santoro
it seemed odd
from even the
first few seconds.
we were discussing
Guru Maharaji,
vegetarianism, and
more while in a car
waiting for the “light”
to change…………….
…and somehow, we just
stopped talking
and
looked to our right.
there on the sidewalk,
in front of a Mr. Donut,
on Hempstead Turnpike
we saw
a man.
squatting down and
inspecting
the carcass
of a
long-dead bird.
he reached down and
touched it's tail.
then I noticed he was
wearing glasses,
had pen and paper in
his shirt pocket;
neatly dressed, and
probably on his
lunch hour also.
he stared at
the body for awhile,
and then
he picked up a
handful of nearby
gravel, and proceeded
to cover
his discovery.
he maintained a serious
thought-filled face
with almost a
predetermined direct fulness
with each move.
all else stopped
for this magnificent
streetside ritual.
we looked at each other
with smiles on our faces
as the “light” changed
and we were swept away….
the Birdman of Mr.Donut
got up and walked off.
on the sidewalk
lay his friend, the bird,
disguised as a
mound of gravel.
it's strange how things
were timed
for us
to arrive at
his ceremony.
Hmmm...
Neat moment, good capture.
That means a lot to me Matt. Thank you very much.
Just. Love. This. A single, precious observation. The man's story is whatever we imagine it to be; but his act of fundamental decency reminds us that we are lucky to be here.
Thank you Laura for the poignant analysis of the actions of the Birdman of Mr. Donut. Fundamental decency seems to be fading in our society as we baby boomers lose out to young ones fixated on texting, never looking around to appreciate the wonders of the awesome world, and when they walk through a doored threshold, fail to hold the door for us. But I have hope. I have 4 grandkids, all vegetarians! All with a reverence for life!