looking for rats in cobblestone gutters

I must be missing them, cause I know they're there. I heard stories year in and year out about them being about in gutters and curbs of the various taverns and bars along the historic part of my hometown, heard about them around the hospital as well. And while in one of those particular taverns just this evening after chatting with my waiter, a young strapping hippy of a man in with a pony-tail and stern look, asked of me "Do you adhere to any "anti-Americanism"? I was thrilled to be asked the question in which I responded " No, not anti-Americanism per say, but rather anti-HUMANISM". He nodded and I assume agreed to some extend (maybe his plans for starting the revolution right there in the middle of Monday night football were crushed, maybe not). He and I then began (me doing most of the rifting, because once I've had a few I can't shut the fuck up, nor want to) talking about the state of society, humanity, and what has happenned? He then threw in that he and his wife (cute girl) were moving in the next few weeks to Seattle. God, I thought, that's it out of the "Bible-belt" and on to greener pastures, smoking weed, taking in the lushness between rains, for all rights free love has to still be alive there, Right? I told him at least he had that, Love, to fall back on at any time of weakness, or dishearten. To this he simply replied "Love is not a simple venture to achieve" (sound of assuredness in his voice, he got his), I just replied unimpressively "yeah". so, that's that, and I'm off to watch my rented copy of 'The Devil's Rejects'. If I can find happiness or love in humanity and its ilk, I watch it be cut to ribbons then.