Monday, February 19, 2007

Caveat



At the shrine
tourists stand
in patient files, inching
through catacombs to view
the effigies, the holy relics.
Above one narrow gallery
a secular intrusion glistens:

BEWARE OF PICKPOCKETS.

The faithful see their sign,
pat their wallets,
press on reassured.
But in the passageway, observant
of the self-searching pilgrims,
stands the dip, smiling,
the paint still wet on his fingers.


3 comments:

Unknown said...

Neat piece of observation on humans, neat!

John said...

I'm smiling. Don't know why, but I am.

Debi said...

Smiling's good. Don't analyse it!