Sitting Beside The Very Street

sitting beside the very street
on a dilapidated bench, paint peeling
people stroll past, children scurry
an infant left in a carriage outside a shop wails
wearing a small blue beret, the kind tractor drivers wear
a thick raincoat from who knows how long ago, high rubber boots
he sits, eating ice cream with wafers
two more portions on the bench, beside him
old, unkempt cheeks,
alone, by himself,
buses stopping before the shops
he sits and calmly eats ice cream
it's hot, the end of May
around him
a magic circle spreads
quiet and solitude