Kid about twelve or thirteen played violin
With impassioned poise, entire focus on sheet music
Resting on the stand near his best friend
Waiting for his turn to busk at street fair
To earn money for musical education —
Performing background music for commerce
Supporting their grown-ups, town, life.
Not one hour later, in a small-town diner
Three miles away, but virtual universe apart
From well-dressed, happy, gregarious shoppers,
He filled plastic tumblers with precise drops
Of perfectly formed ice with natural rhythm:
Blazing fast shovel, fill, set on tray to carry
High overhead through bustling, crowded room.
Two hours later, same kid scurried up steps
Of town library struggling to survive on
Shrinking budgets to fulfill its mission of
Inspiring tiny ones to read, older ones to
Wonder, explore, and think new ideas,
Still others to imagine, dream, create
What would never have been without them.