Trick
There was no ethnic or demographic pattern to distinguish the people who stayed to watch [Joshua] Bell, or the ones who gave money, from that vast majority who hurried on past, unheeding. Whites, blacks and Asians, young and old, men and women, were represented in all three groups. But the behavior of one demographic remained absolutely consistent. Every single time a child walked past, he or she tried to stop and watch. And every single time, a parent scooted the kid away.
look mama a man with a stick making a song on a funny-looking box stuck to his chin
come along honey we’ll be late
look how he stands & rocks mama like a tree in the wind & the box as shiny as fresh-shined shoes where his voice should be
hush it’s only a street musician don’t let him catch you looking
but mama look how the song goes all around from the same back & forth isn’t that the most magic trick you ever heard
it’s only a violin honey hurry up we’ll be late