Skip to main content

All Is Calm

once upon a busy sidewalk
they brushed shoulders
a clipped apology 
with the slightest hint
of eye contact followed
yet the warmth
from that brief collision
stayed with her
all the way to the office
every once and again
she'd rub her shoulder
no blood,
no wound
all was calm
strange, as this would normally
annoy her and now
she was filled with
happiness and 
dare she say...joy
she pondered on this
cautious comfort
why was she pondering?
she never pondered on source of  anger
that, she could easily identify
but a source of joy?
that must be questioned, scrutinized...
it was her city roots  showing
she rubbed her shoulder once again
smiling
concluding that
if anger could be transferred 
then so must happiness...
but not before
quickly feeling for her purse
once again
just to be sure...

Peace ~ Rene

Comments

  1. Not sure that I got all of the meaning, but I think that you now feel safe walking down the streets??? I don't know, I need to give up commenting. It seems like I don't understand anything anymore!

    ReplyDelete
  2. cute - that's probably how I would have felt if I had just brushed shoulders with, let's say, Johnny Depp???? (or am I being too shallow here?)

    ReplyDelete
  3. I'd probably still check for my purse too, but love the sentiment in this...:-)

    ReplyDelete
  4. Hmmm..... I should brush shoulders more often. Please spin a tale about what women are looking for or want when....

    and thanks for you occasional stop by... -JH

    ReplyDelete
  5. otin~ don't be so hard on yourself...:)
    this was something I wrote not really knowing what direction it was going...I had no meaning or moral in mind...I had just finished Christmas shopping and was still feeling the after effects of all of that...

    Peace ~ Rene

    ReplyDelete
  6. Another gem, Rene! Lots to think about.

    Tidings of comfort and joy~

    Thank you for your beautiful poetry!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Oh, my. I feel this one. :-)

    I love your poetry, Rene. There's a wistful quality that really speaks to me, so hopeful and poignant and yet entirely rooted in reality. Makes me want to hold someone's hand...

    Pearl

    ReplyDelete
  8. Too often we are too quick to anger, too slow to trust, too busy and jaded to find the joy in the everyday occurances that make up our lives. And then the touch of a stranger reminds us...

    That's what I read into it, anyway. But I could be way off base here.

    ReplyDelete
  9. it is cool to think that something carries over from those brief touches beyond annoyance...and a misplaced wallet. smiles.

    ReplyDelete
  10. I love this thought, especially during the hustle-bustle of this Christmas season... an opportunity for joy over anger... an opportunity for a connection, rather than a disconnect. Love it, Rene! Peace.

    ReplyDelete
  11. you have a gift Rene, as I have said before. I like the way your mind works.

    ReplyDelete
  12. unexpected, free joy
    from an unexpected source!

    it's all about the deltoids~
    C

    ReplyDelete
  13. Finding joy on a busy sidewalk. Love it!

    ReplyDelete
  14. Wow- very thought provoking!

    Have a Happy VGNO!

    ReplyDelete
  15. Happy VGNO!

    I love your poem. It's beautiful, makes me feel all warm and fuzzy! I have to say, being from small town arkansas, I have never walked on a sidewalk busy enough to brush someone's shoulder. In fact when I meet someone on the sidewalk usually I know them and we stop and talk :)

    ReplyDelete
  16. I love the transfer of joy...from a simple and seemingly accidental encounter...during the holiday season...simply beautiful...your poem is so uplifting! ~Janine XO

    ReplyDelete
  17. Yep... covers it all. The practicality of clutching for the purse... so human. So ...

    Nice, Lady.

    ReplyDelete
  18. This is a great site you have here. I just found it from a friend's page. I have a humor blog as well and I'd like to exchange links with you. This will spread some traffic around between us. Let me know if this is cool.

    Jason
    HilariousHeadlines TALK

    ReplyDelete
  19. Rene,
    I was at the mall braving the crowd the other day, bumping shoulders...and I actually smiled thinking of and remembering your words. And then, yes, I felt for my purse!

    ReplyDelete
  20. How utterly delightful, dear Rene. Love it.

    ReplyDelete
  21. I can tell some of these people live in big cities, some of us naive people wouldn't think to check for our purses...but it did make me think of a couple trips I've made to NYC.

    Just stopping by to say Happy VGNO for last week's VGNO....too many things going on this time of year. Holiday preparations, work, school party...yada, yada, yada! Hope you're enjoying the holidays!

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Please drop a penny in a poet's hat :

Popular posts from this blog

bridesmaid

Image via Magpie Tales i won't be leaving here with you nor will you be staying with me for any longer than you see fit that is just the way of it it is the silent refrain of my being i won't be leaving here with you but i will stay, until my time is done as your ceremonial chosen one no, this won't be my last tour though it is the first time i won't be leaving here with you shh, now, darling. this is what i do i see it in your eyes, our time's drawing to a close. please don't mind  the tears  they come, they go, it's true... i won't be leaving here with you Rene ~ December 8, 2012

blue willow

i don't like eggs but you knew this already i know you're thinking such a terrible waste but it's not, you see i'm feeding them to the dog she loves them just as much as i know she loved you and the way you walked her as if every single thing she sniffed mattered to you as well sorry, dear pardon my red wine opera crowd violin string tugging (your words) i ramble at breakfast like a fussy percolator but you knew this already morning is when i am most honest and vulnerable i know that's why you left after dinner oh god dammit you i miss you so much what i did before us is a mystery and what i do now is insanity i'm frying up eggs just to smell them again and to perhaps coax you down, from wherever you are for breakfast did you know i believe that there is still a ghost of a chance Rene Foran ~  April 2011 photo by Tess Kincaid for Magpie Tales click for more info