A lonely dog rolls

On the carpet of a sidewalk cafe.

Basking in the joy

Of spring sunshine.

The waiter makes an half-hearted effort

To schwoosh the dog away.

Instead the dog gets

A scrap of something

And happily makes his way.

Moments of kindness

Ring louder

Than church bells

In this quiet, polite town.

War clanged through here years ago.

Pounded it quite flat in the Second War.

Starved it during the Homeland War.

But now it's just the quiet sound

Of Adidas and Converse walking around.