Passing Strangers

.
Seeing bodhisattvas and dragon librarians here,
and thinking they're commuters
writing small notes,
sipping canned-coffee and paging
through sheet music on the train.

I look up and see
four young soccer players in green shorts
and socks bounce into the train.
Their eyes each glowing
like undersea moons,
teeth pointing every which way.

Clearly,
they have studied the 'passing strangers
on opposite sides of a building' teachings.

With a steady integrity of themselves,
they, of course, get off at Hagoromo station.

My only regret: I didn't ask their age
and which direction is north.



by jerry gordon