I took this picture one morning when I was in Manhattan's Union Square. My brother had an appointment in one of New York's high-rise buildings and Ben and I decided to wait in the park.

There were a lot of people in the park. I sat on a bench and chatted with a man who came every day. He said he was a retired Merchant Marine and he lived in one of the buildings not too many blocks away.

The man you see reaching into the fountain caught my attention and I took his picture. He would spot a coin in the fountain, draw it out with his cane and put the coin in his pocket. Another man had been there earlier so there weren't many coins to draw out.

There were quite a few artists selling their paintings, and there were three groups of men playing chess. The benches were full of people reading newspapers, books, or sleeping.

Look at the picture then write what you think. You might want to tell us something about the man leaning over the fountain. You might want to write from the viewpoint of someone who visited the park every day. Use your imagination and write a few lines, then submit your entry to me. LaraOct7 (LaraOct7@aol.com)

I dropped a penny in for a wish
I heard it drop swish swish swish
That wasn't a cent oh my oh me
It's a dollar coin that I see


Now how will I ever get it back
With it gone my wallet will lack
I had planned to use it for latte
Now how ever will I pay


If I should climb down into there
Will anyone truly care
Would they call an on duty cop
Would I fall plop plop plop


I dropped a penny in for a wish
I heard it drop swish swish swish
It wasn't a cent oh my oh me
It's a dollar coin that I see


I want it back I so much do need
I'll climb down in without heed
Hope nobody comes along I know
I need my dollar I truly need it so

EACH AND EVERY DAY
I WALK MY PARK AND SAY
HELLO FOLKS,HOW DO YOU DO
IM SO GLAD TO SEE ALL OF YOU


AROUND THE FOUNTAIN,ON THE STREET
AND ALWAYS GLAD TO MEET
THE COP ON THE BEAT
HE IS ALWAYS CLEAN AND NEAT


THE CHILDREN PLAYING WITH BALLOONS
SWINGING FROM SWINGS ,PRETENDING TO FLY TO THE MOON
SITTING ON SEE SAWS UP AND DOWN
OH MY MOM CAN I GO ON THE MERRY GO ROUND?


FEED THE PIGEONS IN THE PARK
KEEP THE KIDS THERE UNTIL DARK
TAKE THEM HOME BATHE THEM CLEAN
READ THEM A STORY,WHILE EATING ICECREAM


THEY ARE ASLEEP AS SOON AS THEY HIT THE BED
THINKING OF SWINGS AND BALLOONS OF RED
THEY HAD FUN
MAYBE CAME A LITTLE UNDONE


BUT NOW THEY SLEEP LIKE A LOG
DREAMING THEIR DREAMS IN A FOG
WHAT WILL TOMORROW BRING
FRIENDSHIP LAUGHTER AND BELLS THAT WILL RING.


TINY TOTS ARE NOW WAKING UP
PETTING AND CALLING THEIR BRAND NEW PUP
WATING TO SEE WHAT THIS DAY WILL BRING
MORE LAUGHTER AND FRIENDSHIP AND BELLS THAT WILL RING ..

Union Square got a' love it.
The Subway, and so many people above it.


The fountain holds a lot of coins that might be collectible.
Some folks can't resist taking them which might not be quite respectable.


It's a lovely sunshiny day which finds folks rushing through their lives.
New York is a city that hums with activity and never sleeps, so thrives.


Sell your wares, and talk to passers by.
I love NY, and Union Square is why.

People, people everywhere, there in Union Square.
Some a buying, some a selling,
some a thieving and some a sunning,
my oh my, what a potpourri.


People tossing coins into the fountain,
one old man, the coins a taking.
Hustle, bustle, quite an ado.
What do you expect in New Yawk City?


Neck all stiff and sore,
looking up at the tall buildings.
People talk so funny,
is it Yankee jibberish?


Trash and garbage do abound,
no one cares about the mess,
But I guess it is to be expected
they all live in those tall buildings.


Country road, take me home,
back to the peace and quiet of the sticks.
I have come, I have seen,
never again do I care to return.


Union Square what the sight, oh what a big fright,
people coming, people a going,
me I just stand all agape,
wishing I was back in Bumfuzzle.

I think I see a quarter.
Way down,,underneath.
I'll have to reach down further..
WHOOPS! There goes my teeth!

Daydreaming, cold sandwich in hand,
A secretary watches a money diver,
Just a while ago she saw him out her window,
Let out by a fancy limo driver.


An old retired gravel voiced eccentric,
Playing like he's poor is what he does,
Still in the game he probably thinks,
A light step ahead of the fuzz.


Today, tho, she sees him a different way,
Across the way a lady in blue,
He blushed, seemed to think as he looked,
Oh, honey, I do hope I know you.


She caught him staring a hole through her dress,
He dumped his head for more money,
He's more into romance, surprised she guessed,
Gee, this sandwich tastes funny.


Tomorrow a sandwich wonąt come with her,
She'll buy one at that vendor out there.
A blue dress she'll wear and a great big smile
And meet that guy in Union Square.

TANKA



A distressful man
willing to look for answers
never surrenders.
If curiosity itches
an empty fountain will help.

Pennies, nickels and dimes
thrown in the water below
Jim wished for a miracle
when he was on the go ~


He's traveled from city to city
stopping at the wishing well so near
hoping the foreign dime he'd left
might somehow bring him cheer


He'd bought a lottery ticket
hundred thirty million was the pot
a sailor was he and adventurous too
the first thing he'd buy would be a yacht


The lottery numbers were drawn
Jim couldn't believe his ears
he had the winning ticket
so rushed to tell the cashier


Relatives heard of Jim's good luck
All were camped at his front door
they were all like vultures, you see
and some he'd never seen before


He knew they only wanted some cash
five tickets they each were to buy
he took their money and off he sailed
never concerned with their outcry

Lived couple miles away and heard of this park
One day I went on subway to get there
Made plans with a friend to meet me at noon
Surprised it was a big crowd that nice day
Found a place to sit to people watch that afternoon
Got some iced tea and put a penny in fountain
Said hi to some people we knew and chatted
My eyes set on this man with hand in fountain
Put an Indian penny in and him trying to get it out
He saw where I sat and was having a rough time
Two hours passed, he got it and walked up to me