You have a job
and you have your orders
and you have a need
to keep the peace
but watch what you’re doing.
Be careful what you say
and be wary what you do
for the old shriveled man loitering on the boulevard
may have heralded the 60s
or something.
The addled geriatric ambling your streets
could always be Bob Dylan.

Treat the people with respect.
Push no one around.
Assume everyone deserves
a modicum of doubt
and pretend that every cracked figure
out of place
in the out-of-the-way
might have some reason to be there.

Do your job.
Follow orders.
Keep the peace
but know
every stranger could be someone special
and every wandering pilgrim
could just be a prophet.