The Third `Man

I was walking down a side street in Dansk

with a friend. The morning was crisp, 

cold and clear. We had just concluded a 

conversation about metaphysics, and were

just walking. Sound became prominent as

we walked in silence, wrapped in our own

contemplations. We stopped at a corner where

there was a slight panorama of the city, There

were few other people on the street at that time.

An old, ragged man, pushing a cart down the

sidewalk came closer. In the cart was what looked

like junk. The three of us were slowly walking 

towards each oher.  We naturally stopped when

we were upon each other. There was a pause,

I remember.

“Good day, Sirs.” the old man says.

“Good day to you,” says my friend,

do you have anything to sell?”

“No, Sirs, nothing I reckon you’d be interested in…

but, I have some free advice. It’s free because I

can only give it away. You gentlemen look like

thoughtful sorts…..maybe you could use it.”

My friend and and I gave each other a wink.

“Yes, esteemed Sir, we would be honored to 

hear what you have to tell us.”

“Very well,” said the old man as he scratched

under his arm.

“You think you’re fine gentlemen because you

wear fine clothes, eat at restaurants, sleep in

silk….you think your life is much different than 

mine, when, really, it is exactly the same, and,

perhaps a wretch like me can see that even more

clearly than yourselves. That should give you pause.

Every description of reality you come up with is

like a balloon that a child has lost the grip of,

and vanishes into the sky.”

He said nothing else…passed by us then, as if

we didn’t exist.