THE OBSERVER  (1/19/2025)

Red stop sign
Yellow flashing lights
Life is a caution
Streaks of blue and black
Cars driving by
Reflections in the cafe window
Snowing outside
Cold slush-riddled city streets

Steam from my coffee cup 
Swirling upward in warm moist eddies
Melding to the window pane and streaming down

Sad faces
Too cold to be happy
And still thought sane
Sky-blue hood drawn close
Encircles red nose and puffy red cheeks
In a puffy blue parka
Contemplating crossing the street
Risk and possibility
On slick urban winter walkways