Dust, Litter and Leaves

Close to midnight
in the shadow of the city hall
hardly lit by the hot dog stand,
a lone busker sang his heart out to
the near-deserted square.

Dust and litter swirled around
his tales of love and devotion.

Bent double, a shuffling woman
rattled her trolley across the cobbles.
She stopped, raised her arms as best she could,
and danced for a while.

I told him he had a beautiful voice.
He smiled and said, “Thank you.”