Poem by Jimmy Pappas

Never ask big city cops for directions
since all they do is point straight ahead
& convince you it's the only way to go
& the thing is even though you know it's not
enough information you follow it wondering
if maybe this time you got it right & they gave
it to you straight & if you just kept heading
the same way you always were, you might
find a place so clean & so sunlit & so safe
you could just toss a blanket on the ground
right there & invite passers-by to join you
for a small square of watercress sandwich
& a cup of chamomile tea while you shared
pictures of children waving at everyone.