As Things Pass

A leaf skates across the sidewalk,
Caught in a swirl of wind
It lands with a sigh 
On the edge of a curb, unnoticed

A constant flow of people move beneath skyscrapers
A woman in a red coat pauses at the end of the street,
Her scarf fluttering in the wind
She clutches a small paper bag
(maybe lunch or a gift) tightly in one hand
She jaywalks against the crowd of cars
Like a true new yorker

Nearby, a man sits on the curb
Shoes untied, a cigarette dangles from his lips
As he exhales
The smoke slowly makes its way into the air
Across the street, a bike messenger cuts through the crowd
His tires spraying water from the recent rain
A pigeon pecks at an old napkin
Its head bobbing in sync with the others

The air smells thick 
Of hairspray, shampoo, or something chemical
A row of mirrors stretches down the wall, 
Each face with different emotions
A woman grinning, thrilled with her new haircut
While a young man forced a smile, his eyes cast down