when I go into a new city
i like to look around
at the way strangers interact and engage
or fail to
how do the teens treat the children
how do the elders get enveloped in traffic
how do the bartenders treat other languages
do the kids roam free
do the queer folks walk proudly
do the old ladies smile
do the punks look angry or relaxed
who is feeding the birds
what kind of gin is in the Negroni
how many genders can go into a bathroom
is there garbage on the streets
can you smell flowers
does eye contact result in a smile
or blank stares
do people sit on blankets in the parks
are there more cars than people
are there bike lanes
are you asked how you are or
what you want first
culture bleeds out in every dynamic
an ethos of a city
can tell you a lot about yourself if
you allow it too
