I believe in people walking solitary on a springtime evening,
Who’re not drunks, hoboes, or weirdos,
Who’re not junkies or pushers,
Hustlers and hookers,
None of them typical midnight freaks.
Who’re not even walking their dog,
Or joining a free party in the woods…
It might seem unlikely,
But they just need a little talking to themselves.
And whatever the season, I guess.
It only goes nicer in May.

Their face is an island of sanity
Amongst every gathering of loud, drunken and gross people
Overfilling the space even two hundred yards away ;
Those who make you change direction,
Not by security,
Yet for the sake of quietness.

Their silhouette is a shade of dignity
Amongst all predatory occupation of a street,
Or a simple byway.

They seem to walk their line,
And this lane of intimacy
I’d never mean to swerve.

I believe in you
Solitary girl, solitary boy.
Let the night be yours
And tomorrows be more sensible and reasoned.

You don’t behave like you want to hurt someone,
Or like you want to hurt yourself.
You don’t seem to believe that the earth is flat.
You just think better on your own.

And I believe in your thinking,
Whether I do agree or not with your thoughts.

I believe in your thinking,
And I believe in your walk.

—

(Drawing by Edward Hopper – « Night shadows »)