Fleeting
Over the heads of the crowd, two pairs of eyes lock gazes for a fraction of a second;
initial disapprobation of the city-dweller for contact with strangers instantly disappears
as something in the back of the eyes scurries up to the brain stem screaming kinship;
for a second more, they linger — caught in the recognition of a congruous soul,
answering echoes whisper wistfully, I wish I could know you,
each passes the other, another glance, furtive now, quickly averted,
in the gap betwixt one step and the next, they try to break through the fear of fraudsters-rapists-robbers-predators,
ingrained pathways raise the alarm there’s safety in homogeneity, in studied indifference; only fools take a chance;
shaking their dreams loose with a toss of their heads, Who could believe in such fantasies?
they withdraw from their reserves of scorn once more to battle their unspeakable disappointment,
mouths frowning, forehead scrunched, gaze steeled — they march to the next appointment, tamping down their loss;
far above, in the verdant fields of happiness, a flower just bloomed opens its petals ready to die
the spark of companionship-love-support that birthed it dwindles under the harsh din of city-life
© Indira Reddy 2019
