As I walk along br this slightly neglected street br in this slightly neglected city br br where the sidewalk and the asphalt br are all cracked with lines, like your palm br br and the dusty storefronts, br their signs plain and worn, br seem a little too crowded together, br br a bulldozer turning the corner br almost hits me br as I cross the street br br and a live shop-girl br fixes the window dressing br amid the mannequins. br br Though the eyes of br people on the sidewalk br fight to remain in denial br of the knowledge br that they're all closest kin, br br I feel myself starting to relax, br just a ripple in a current br flowing in an ancient river br held in God's open hand.