A stranger saviour.

An old man stopped me on the street

to ask about my hat

but that is not what he wanted to speak of

he wanted to tell me a story

a grand tale of who he was

and what that meant

to find in the explanation to a stranger

a new vindication of identity

He was eager to speak

and slow to stop, sure that this

was my desire as well

to hear of him and his life

with its great arc and flair

I nodded and smiled

agreeing

that a life like that

was worth telling, worth celebrating

and that I ,strange girl on the sidewalk,

understood

we parted to cross the streets

at 90 degree angles

with mutual gifts

He had given me a story

and i gave him a smile

How strangers may save each other.