Standing by the highway
suitcase by my side,
and no place I want to go,
I just thought I’d catch a ride.

Many people look my way,
and many pass me by.
In moments of reflection,
I wonder why.

To the thieves I’m just a bandit.
And mothers think I’m their son.
To the preachers I’m a sinner,
Lord I’m not the only one.

To the sad ones I’m unhappy,
To the losers I’m a fool.
To the students I’m a teacher,
With the teachers I’m in school.

To the hobos I’m in prison,
by everything I own.
To the courts I’m just someone
dying to go home.

The attorney general sees a number,
a politician’s tool.
To my friends I’m just an equal
in this world.

Magic Mirror won’t you tell me please,
do I find myself in any one of these?
Magic Mirror if we only could,
see each other as others would.

To the policeman I’m suspicious,
it’s in the way I look.
I’m just another character to
feed and print and book.
To the sensor I’m pornography,
with no redeeming grace.

To the hooker I’m just a customer
without a face,
and the sellers think I’m merchandise,
they’d have me for a song.
The left ones think I’m right.
The right ones think I’m wrong.

And many people look my way,
and many pass me by.
And in quiet reflection,
I wonder why.
Magic Mirror can’t you tell me please?
Do I see myself in anyone I meet?
Magic Mirror if we only could
try to see ourselves as others would.

....................                            Richard Rossi 1995