Vaccinate yourself right into the streams…of the people

Photo by Daniel Frese

“The worst thing that can happen to you is to cut yourself lose from people. And the best thing is to sort of vaccinate yourself right into the streams and blood of the people. To feel like you know the best and the worst of folks that you see everywhere and never to feel weak, or lost, or even lonesome anywhere.” – Woody Guthrie

 

I was in the library a few weeks ago. This happened…

 

Sisters

 

Two sisters twirl on the twirly chairs

as Mom sits nearby on her phone

at the back of the library

 

One ashy blonde. one curly brunette

perhaps ten and eight

in library quietness they don’t disturb

 

Gently gliding on the tabletop

and plopping on the comfy couch

entertaining each other in silence

 

The elderly man in brown slacks

and a pale yellow button-down shirt

sits reading a large-print western novel

 

When he stands to leave he wobbles

trying to get his cane and legs in sync

without dropping his book

 

The blonde rushes over to assist him

though he is steady by then, but she hovers

just in case

 

Mom never notices

and I want to tell her

you’ve got lovely daughters, kind daughters

but as they leave her phone is at her ear