At the top of the station stairs, a cup of coins in front of him

School kids in cadets’ uniforms. What are their parents thinking? Look at me. No, don’t.

A generic frown.
Frown.
Frown.
A smile let loose like a balloon in the sky.

Headphones, headphones, earbuds. Doesn’t matter who’s inside.
Tourist. Surely?
Late for work. The glance back says it was the train’s fault.
Walking fast, head down over phone or map. Watch out for the Watchtower stand.

Armed police. First for a while.
People look serious.
Soles worn down to nothing. How don’t your knees buckle and fall?

You should be at school.
And you.
Oh, I see.

I’ll just close my eyes.

Including some bad things

Some things are done with intent
including some bad things
Some things are done without thought
including some bad things
Some things are intended to hurt
Some things are intended to help
including some bad things

There are lots of things I have said
including some bad things
There are lots of things I have done
including some bad things
There are lots of things around in the world
There are lots of things we don’t understand
including some bad things

I see a lot of things from here in the past
I see a lot of things from the future
I see a lot of things which are happening around us
including some bad things

So now is the time to stand up
The time to stand up and be counted
The time to stand up by doing some things
and stop doing others
including some bad things

That cyclist hasn’t

That cyclist hasn’t thought through the whole flowers-in-the-backpack situation. Pedestrians are showered with petals like confetti. Some smile and hold hands more tightly, others brush petals from their faces. Perhaps tears. The cyclist speeds on. At his destination, perhaps a red-brick block near the bypass, disappointment waits with its usual patience.