A few brief moments...

To The Lady on the Train,

It was only for a few brief moments that I could see you... You were busy and distracted... At your desk, hair pulled back, fingers barely leaving the keyboard. A hint of frustration in your face and voice contrasted with your response that your day was going okay...

Sometimes you look so small, so drawn into yourself... You are steeled against everything that is going on, hard as rock and pushing through... You are one of the toughest and strongest people I know - you are a wonder, no doubt.

I will confess that a part of me wanted to scoop you up, have you put your arms around me and to let me hold you for a while - not out of pity or because you are not strong - but support. I wanted to help - to take some burden - or to take care of you in some way - to feel you relax against me, if even for a moment... But that would be the last thing that you would want - you need to get through things on your own.

It was only a few brief moments and you were steel and beautiful... Dark eyes, rounded and steady -straight backed and tense... A river that has a calm glass surface but once you step in, you realize how deep and strong the current is... Strong enough to carve it's way into mountains and through rock - always pushing forward - unstoppable.

I could let myself be swept down that river - winding through valleys, past canyons - through wild and fast rapids - through lazy slow sections - winding past new and different landscapes - never knowing excatly where I am going, but always somewhere new and exciting. I would followe her course through any terrain, through any weather, to whatever destination she might lead.... To explore the river is the destination.

From The Man in the Station