LESSONS ON A TRAIN

There’s a man on the train begging
For dollar bills exchanging quarters

Encased in his coat and hat
As completely covered as he is empty inside
My first thoughts:
Of the sudden emptiness in the car,
Of my vulnerability,
Of what may happen,
Hoping for safety in the numbers of strangers,
Hoping this man would leave

Being fluid and soft
Fear and inadequacy clutch each other for comfort
With nothing left to accept the man’s outstretched hands

His finances and my talent
Both lacking so we make noise to cover our weakness
In his face there is every island man
Marginalized, politicized, criticized, and condemned

Stripped of his dignity and power
Without the island woman he is truly without protection

Am I callous?
It’s late and I’d rather sit a safe distance away
Rationalized guilt
Mind walks in circles following the man
Together searching for compassion

This train is a self-contained lesson plan
Everyday the gods present one
Observing with great hilarity and bemused tolerance

I wonder, sometimes, why they bother to keep faith with us
Perhaps they are eternal optimists
Hoping to lead us to our respective destinies

I walk on thankful for tonight’s lesson
Vowing to follow my spirit guides