"City Lights"

Transients read those signs you place in your second story windows, though I’m not convinced they fully understand their meanings. Some transients say you’re too far Left, but it doesn’t matter. Those signs are still public.

Some transients hold within themselves visions of literary fame. They hail the building in highest regard. They lecture about your history with the Beats and the post-Beat thinkers who preach unrestrained truths. These transients gather to you and pour through your books to see who’s made their mark in print, who perhaps may have begun a possible legacy.

Other transients flock to you merely to read and become enlightened with fiery new concepts and perceptions of our world. These transients are the apostles for both our secular and religious ways of thinking.

And these are the reasons why you endure, dear City Lights: You are the pusher of literary dreams, the provider of much-needed insight, and the haven for the artistic hoards of geniuses and the masses of insane fame-seekers. And for all this, you are celebrated.

Perhaps one day you’ll place a new sign in one of the second story windows that reads:

[ . . . be limitless . . . ]