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MacArthur BART Station,
Oakland, CA, 1979
Deserted, sunny, the courtyard
in front of the subway station,
diagonally I started across
towards the entrance,
a black man, no one I knew,
walked out; our gazes met
and an image flashed
between our minds:
arms wide, we ran to each other,
lovers reunited at last
in an embrace,
then collapsing in laughter;
movie moment over,
strangers off to separate destinations,
unknown lives;
even now the memory
stirs wonder and delight.
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Willow, this is wonderful. How often i’ve felt the urge to embrace a stranger and in my mind had a moment of tenderness, humour or intimacy with someone just passing. Is it part of our urge and part of our nature to be liked and loved, wanted, appreciated? I believe it may well be. You’ve captured this so so well, one of my favourites of yours. Thank you. Kudos!
john
I agree that we all have that urge to connect and can have strong, warm feelings towards strangers–and that it’s a deep part of our nature, a very deep part, mystics might say, a recognition that far beneath surface appearances, we are all one, all part of the same whole. It’s a beautiful urge, and I suppose only the fear we’ve learned keeps us from expressing it more often. Thanks for your insightful comments, John my friend, and all of your support.
I like this! Passing glances between strangers, a flash of inner recognition, shared fancies, and then, in an instant, life moves on.
You’re back–renewed and refreshed, I hope! Yes, those brief connections, the older I get, the more I appreciate them; even just a smile from a stranger or a brief comment makes my day. Thanks for coming by and commenting–much appreciated.
You’re welcome! I expect to get back to my regular blogging activities by this weekend, but couldn’t resist the urge to comment on your wonderful work.