When I stop and take a look at my life now that I am well past fully grown
I like to think how I’ve been blessed by all the people I have known.
Certainly there is my family, my children, my grandchildren and my wife
but what about all the others people who have helped to shape my life.
Some were with me from the start but are gone now…to my dismay
Some have been here many years…others merely crossed my path along the way
Some I’ve known by name others I never really knew…but I’m still glad
at what they all have given me…at the impact they have had
I’ve known mothers and fathers, brothers and sisters…aunts and uncles too
I’ve known teachers, students, and children who helped to mold my point of view.
So many people I have met whose influence I can’t ignore
from priests, professors, bus drivers to baggers in the grocery store.
I’ve known mechanics, fishermen, lawyers…waiters and waitresses galore
all who made me think a little differently than I had thought the day before.
I’ve known authors and musicians…I’ve loved their melodies….their words
I’ve been changed by every book I’ve ever read and every song I’ve ever heard.
I could go on and on because in my mind a host of faces are now blending
You might say when it comes to the people in my life…the list is never-ending.
And I imagine it’s the same with everyone
For no one ever lives their life totally alone
No…we are who we are today
because of all the people we have known.
The true measure of the greatness of a person,
a town,
a city,
a country…
a people
is not in the fortunes we amass…
not in caring solely about ourselves
No
hopefully
we will find…
before we are deceased…
the true measure of the greatness of a person
a town,
a city,
a country,
a people…
is in how we treat those less fortunate than us…
those who have the least.
We would exchange greetings…but only for a moment
as we pass on our walk every day.
We could tell she’s a little older than us,
her hair is white…while ours is a little bit grey
The other morning after years of passing by
trading a wave, a nod and a smile.
we decided to get to know her…
so we stopped and talked for awhile.
We talked about life and children.
She told stories from her past.
She was happy to talk…we were happy to listen
and the time seemed to fly by so fast.
We found out many things about her…
so many big things in a little while
and somewhere in the stories she told
we found the reason for her smile.
Now when we run into each other
on our early morning walks
sometimes we wave and smile…
other times we talk.
Which makes me wonder wouldn’t the world be a happier place
If somewhere along the way
more people would stop and take the time
to know the people they pass every day.
Lights are low
Cast red ember reflections on
faces
And in pupils of eyes.
Always muggy, sweaty – a pressure
In the air.
Breathless, gasping for
oxygen.
Diamond shapes in stockings
and
Glitter on their eyelids.
An elevated self-confidence in
Their strides.
A few hours, one night only.
A week.
For silhouettes of testosterone
dreams
On silver poles and shiny
floors.
For musty men
Thinking nothing only, only
(Children back at home,
dark black bedrooms).
In their element
Down the notes fall
And tuck themselves into bras,
Or thongs.
Rent money
Lost and rent money gained
A circle of life and motion
Of ass.
Round like pearls
Trapped here in the name of
Money.