Please See Me

Living in a city where ‘no contact’ is allowed.

Not physical but eye contact.

A place full of people with no emotion.

Sitting on the platform, moving onto the train at rush hour looking at all the blank faces.

Maybe they’re too tired to look up or not interested.

Likely that they could be reading a really, really, good book that requires all of their energy and concentration.

Possible that when eyes are looking at them they’ve just finished looking, a few seconds late.

There are only so many signs to read

pages to turn

ways to cross and uncross your legs

shift from side to side

pretending to be asleep

reading the map, when you know where you are going

ignoring all the things around you and even the things in front of you

“Hey just look up, one quick glance.”

I want to look and be looked at.  I like the feeling of connecting with other people.  Connect with me please.  Bodies so tight that the air is sweating, yet I am alone.  We are all alone.  Scary place to be, alone in a city with more people than some countries have and one of the loneliest places I’ve ever ventured to.

Opps, it’s my stop, did he just look at me or her?  Maybe I missed it, maybe next time.  I’m here and ready to be recognized, be seen, and feel alive.  The windows to your soul have shutters on them that have been conditioned to always stay closed.  Sometime soon you’ll feel the cold and not be able to see the sun.  One nice day you will see the beams shining through into the darkness, and you will want to open and see and breathe and just be.  Seeing what is to be offered.  The grass is green where I am standing too.

I promise…

Can I come in now?

I need to be seen…

Please