Peace

i drink a bottle of water
while i sit near the pavilion
watching multi-colored
strangers across the boulevard
order gallons of iced cream

a little boy with glowing tanned
skin and thick black curly hair
runs by screaming in spanish
then softer, but insistent,
"¡Pappi Pappi, chocolate! "

the band on the open stage
starts playing a country song
and stops to thank the folks
across the street for everything.

I toss the bottle in a trash barrel
and start walking home
when the car flys the crosswalk
narrowly missing a family of five

There are no blue lights
just thunderous swearing
and a look of terror
and relief on the mother's face.