Those Human Landmarks (Poetry)

Where did they go? —
those old sellers-of-newspapers in the town centre
and snoozers-on-park-benches
those aged gossipers-on-corners
and hangers-around-in-bus-stations
watching the people arriving and departing
nodding and smiling at no one in particular
just passing the time ... for time was all they had

They’ve been missing some time
and not been replaced —
has no one noticed their absence? —
the lack of old characters squatting like landmarks
some of them almost legendary figures
and known to everyone local
acknowledged by many as part of the urban landscape
                                                        and doing no harm

Are there no old-timers well-bundled and stoic
                                                to sit in those places
and doze or observe the life all around them?
Are they all packed away — made tidy indoors
out of all weathers and slowly fading from lack of fresh air?
Bring them back! Bring them back!
For the pigeons and children need elderly bookends
                                                        to gawp at awhile