Franklin Square Park

August 13, 2026

Arriving at the park from the South West corner, I was struck by the smell of dry grass, and eucalyptus leaves. I took a loop towards the north side, hugging the courts. On my way I encountered many pieces of cut fruit, such as a grapefruit that had been cut in half, and a mango that had been sliced open and left on the sidewalk near the edge of the grass. 

I don’t know if someone left these intentionally, or if they happened to slip out of someone’s bag as they cut through the park on their way home from the safeway across the street, but it struck me that the fruits were cut cleanly into pieces. 

I passed by a few people laying in the grass, but I couldn’t tell if they were sleeping there out of choice or necessity. One man in particular looked to be very comfortably fast asleep beside the courts, partially hidden from the path by a large bush. His face was sun-darkened and he was laying on his side with his bag under his head as a pillow. 

Between him and the bush, there was a group (flock?) of maybe thirty small brown birds delighting in some snacks they had found in the grass. Perhaps they had found some fruit? When a gust of strong wind blew through, some of them lifted up, letting it carry them a few feet into the air before touching back down again. They looked like they were having a great time, and they sounded like it too. 

I wondered if the sleeping man was actually asleep, or just listening with his eyes closed. I felt a little envious of his spot in the grass.