On the street, walking, a disturbance up ahead
A sidewalk philosopher with unresolved grievances
Lecturing the world, hands gyrating, talking loudly to the wind
Walking back and forth, impeding sidewalk traffic
I walk by on the street, out of reach
No eye contact, checking him in my peripheral
Never know how this type will act out
I’m not as quick as I used to be
Lots of homeless here on Pauahi Street
Drug users, drunks, thieves, and folks just down on their luck
Sprinkle in some mental illness and let the games begin
River of Life Mission, next block down, gives free meals
Got a new hygiene station there in 2015
A place to wash up and use the bathroom
Helps cut down shitting on the sidewalks
Pandemic hit Chinatown hard
Small businesses shuttered, many not coming back
But homeless folks just motored on
With more empty store fronts in which to relax
I think the plan is to move River of Life to another part of town
I’m sure new neighbors not psyched
Will be a nice break for Chinatown
Wow, there goes some naked guy on a bike
New mayor just revived Honolulu’s “Weed and Seed” program in Chinatown
What, is that an actual cop walking on the street?
Yes, and things are starting to turn around a bit
In this reporter’s opinion, walking the Chinatown beat
Too bad the manapua place closed
Guess I’ll hike uptown to McDonald’s
Quarter pounder sounds all right
And dude behind me won’t stop hollerin’
Waipahu Bob 