i came upon a boy and his bicycle
not 11 years old yet
sitting in a deserted parking lot
wailing, sobbing
at the top of his lungs
not any funeral lament any louder
more blood-curdling
than this youth...
i came upon an elderly man
kneeling beside his car
i averted my eyes
not sure what-was-what
then he asked for a helping hand
years before he had been paralyzed
and now beside the car had fallen
i gave him an arm
and with great force
he pulled himself up...

such sadness we stumble upon
how much is hidden
that never comes into view
as i walk these streets
door-to-door
i offer a prayer--
Peace, Joy forever more