He walked down the road
hands in his pockets, head bent as if
in surrender to some dark despair.

He stopped suddenly as if in search
of a sign or reassurance.
He shook his head and turned away 
from the crowd on to a side street.
He walked on seemingly lost 
and oblivious to the world around.

Until..

A sound made him aware
of two childish voices ahead of him
carried clearly on the breeze
one was encouraging his reluctant scared friend
to ride a bicycle
"come on......you can do it......you know you can"

The man stood looking at the two.
Slowly he smiled
which lit his eyes with an understanding
and a certain determination

Instinctively, he squared his shoulders
and turned around and walked firmly
back in to the crowd.
The world.

I looked at him
And at them.

And I wondered.