invisible me

sometimes, no one can see me.
at times, I run into that invisible wall.
wanting to connect with that person...all efforts get rebuffed.
my clever approach gets turned aside,
and I stand there, feeling like a fool.
I wonder why I ever opened my mouth in the first place.
and then I think, "what's the use?"
"it was a stupid idea anyway".
that person isn't so important to me, so why try?
but inside, the feeling lingers,
I just wanted to be friends.

Summer and The Smiling Girl

It is a nice morning,
sun shining, the start of a hot summer Chicago day.
Reading my book on the train, chitchatting with my train friend;
then the morning turned brighter.
There she appeared...The Smiling Girl

She has just returned from Italy six days ago.
She'd finished her last quarter studying art history
in Italy...the Sistine Chapel, Venice,
all of those historic places in the old country.

Her smile, bright as usual, and sparkly eyes,
her straight brown hair, now to the middle of her back
her body ready for summer.

We walked together catching up on the past few months,
talking about new babies, jobs and small talk.
Coordinating our train schedules.
We part ways on the street, she heading toward the Lake,
me north up Wacker.
"See you later!"

Life in Babylon

When I was his age, I didn't know what I was doing.
age 18...high school graduation...new first job for 4 months.
Then after three months I became a beauty school dropout.

age 19...a new job...moved to Baltimore...became a Christian.
I moved back to Ohio...another new job.
I quit the job...read Luke, and forsook all to follow Jesus.

age 20...I had left everything...my life was what I carried on my back.
I wandered the roads of this country; out, into the highways and hedges
compelling them to come in. I had fled Bablylon and was in The Way.

age 21...when I was his age...I had traveled to just about every State in the union.
I often phoned my mom to assure her I was OK.
I posted her letters to convince her to also leave Babylon.
I searched my soul...and changed my mind.
I left the road and returned home.

By the time I was his age, I'd lived four long years on my own.
I'd experienced the world in a way that few ever do.

age 22...I watched the fall of Saigon on TV.
I returned to the care of my parents...and my home. They helped me on my way.
I learned with patience and baby steps how to live back in The World.
I embraced the system.
I returned to Babylon.