Poppy Road Review: The Tourist by Mark Tulin

Poppy Road Review: The Tourist by Mark Tulin
— poppyroadreview.blogspot.com/2020/07/the-tourist-by-mark-tulin.html

The Tourist by Mark Tulin

I look for strange memories 
to bring home to friends, 
buildings as high as Sequoias, 
people as odd as Martians 
I am always prepared to walk, 
my laces tied in a bow knot 
on my brown hiking shoes, 
bottled water in my backpack, 
my camera ready to take pictures 
of funny billboards or signs 
and strange names 
for seafood restaurants 
I bring an extra sweater 
just in case the weather changes 
and a tiny umbrella 
if the rain happens to fall 
I grab the front seat 
on the tour bus, 
hold tightly to the rail, 
and ask the driver questions 
that he’s answered before.