The Observer's Eye

In any crowd this man would
stand alone, stand out, his
presence noted - how might it
not be? Impossible not to take
note, if only to experience
revulsion, pity, for how could
anyone allow themselves the
freedom to become a grotesque,
as he had? Colossus, an original,
his immense size, his girth, his
lumbering gait, his ponderous
presence at once pitiful yet
intimidating as though daring
the crowd to gape. And to their
credit the indifferent crowd
moved on, parting around him 
as he laboriously moved his
gross immensity uphill after
them. Not quite after, but among
for he struggled to attain without
ease of movement what others
easily gained without gravity
gravely denying ease. A daintier
version preceded him, struggling
as he did, as determined to gain
a height to enable observation
of a regional tourism draw,
one of nature's geological wonders
in a mountainside cleft over which
roared a waterfall. Convinced
at first swift glance that rural
ignorance strides before us, 
we hear between them the
cultured speech and perfect
diction of academic distinction 
in the rich, plummy tenor and
responding alto in a courtly
exchange of intimate concern.