The Sage In Us

The important thing she said;
is that everything comes out clean
Washing out every smudge, every speck, every stain

When you go out, you want to go out bright and beautiful

Steering against the wind she said;
will only cause you more struggle
Let the love of Gods breath push you along where he wants

Your journey is already designed for your stoic attendance

Stay vigilant while you rest she said;
Everything can happen but nothing will if you don't see it
Protect yourself, calculate, enumerate but most of all, be suspicious

Life has a way of ripping your limbs off and gutting you when you're not looking

Just before her stop, she picked up the white yet stained hanky that she was sitting on. She folded it into perfect squares, refolding at least twice to get the edges as crisp as pages. Then she picked up her borrowed grocery basket, logo worn off and glided from the train.

My face cold pressed against the window straining to the point of pain for one more glimpse of this sage. But it was as if she vanished into the crowd in the opposite direction. I could tell by the wake that those who made her short in physical stature paid the price of an elbow or two.

The next day she revealed herself to me as two large men found their place. She was the throne and it was her. I could almost make out the title of the book she clung to. With every chatter and clang I was ready to catch it for her. Her mouth hung wide open, dampened by the rest she was so lifelessly wrapped up in. Worthy of the tunnels we rode, gaping and no doubt openly spilling all the wisdom left in her soul.

I thought to myself, I must have done something wrong or perhaps the lesson is over. Scary more is that the lesson may be just getting started.

She startled my righteous judgement,
my slight grin instantly lost, as she violently sprung up and sputtered;
take what you want from me.

I've already given the good stuff away.