when I feel like I’ve had enough and the walls are a bit too tight on me

I have a habit of looking at my dog -coincidentally she is already staring at me, almost every time

she reminds me that it’s time for a little walk

shoes, leash and a cigarette for the road

and as I walk the streets of this miserable city, that’s when I see

the middle-aged couple kissing and giggling like fifteen year olds

and

kids playing in the public fountain

that’s when I take the time to observe

shadows on the wall of the abandoned building hugging

and

the ice cream cone lying on the pavement, the ice cream melted and poured out, like a horrific crime scene

while my dog is sniffing around the little grass that survived the heatwave, I steal a moment to listen to

a street artist, singing about revolution

and, two streets further

the odd man with the dirty clothes talking to himself about love

(little did they know they were talking about the same thing)

as this “little walk” is growing bigger I stumble upon

taverns that make me feel like I am in the middle of an island

and

automatic watering systems that are watering the asphalt

and slowly, I begin to realize

there are a million stories, all around me

some sadder than mine and others brighter

and that can only mean that I too will survive this

and suddenly this miserable city, isn’t so miserable anymore