Hey now Jackpine,
Nice take on the differences between city and burb. I would've thought people would've been more open in the burbs......I've been a stranger in big cities and small, and the general attitude I got was wariness. No faith in mankind any more today, oh well, as the Doors once sang.."people are strange, when you're a stranger........" Here's my take on small town USA....
Where I Come From
A scarecrow leers at me today.....
He lurks behind a fence,
standing silent sentinel
against the scavengers above.
There are many fences
where I come from -
parceling fortresses
behind tree-lined streets.
Families gather at the local fields
to watch their children shag -
Clucking with friends while they
covet their neighbor's wives.
There are many churches
where I come from,
Sunday morning saints atoning
for a week of indulgence.
Careful eyes with pasted smiles
and a fairly hearty "How do ya do?"
are strewn about with the
wariness of a dog over a bone.
Yes, neighbors are watching
where I come from.
They guard their young against
the onslaught of pushers and pimps.
The long-arms ever on the prowl;
guarding their borders against
the rising tide of muggings and
infections from neighboring cities.
Small town USA is where I come
from; teeming with poise, pride and
petty rivalries - just all American
people living an all American dream.
In order to bake properly, one must be properly baked.......