I hear them as crickets
the chatter around me
and wonder
the stories
the stories each person holds
the memories
their sacred thoughts
how much a person holds
from sorrow
to their joys
i wonder who they love
or if they ever
fell in love
i wonder who they are
thinking of
when they are talking of love
i wonder if they
cry at night
if they even get sleep
in the dark dark nights
i wonder if they
smile by force
or genuinely smile
i wonder how many
stories they hold
sorrow they hold
happiness they hold
i wonder if...