The Street Performer. Dedicated to Johan Figueroa-Gonzalez

Remarked upon, then left behind, small change tossed in a jar;

The street performer follows a peculiar canny star.

Competing with reality, he aims beyond the crowd

For something quiet and sincere that comes off very loud.

Roasted by the sun or dampened by the sullen rain,

She counts donations carefully -- until she’s robbed again.

Hoping for reporters to give her publicity

So she can get the tourists to pay for photography.

You don’t find many seniors on the street as mimes or wits;

The hours are too long and then the money often quits.

But young and reckless buskers are a salt to savor oft --

They make the dark streets brighter and hard avenues quite soft.

Read about Johan Figueroa-Gonzalez at https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/14/nyregion/a-wall-hanging-stirs-to-life-in-washington-square-park.html