MUSIC MAN WITH GRAY EYES

MUSIC MAN WITH GRAY EYES

On the bus for people

with limps and lopes,

with wheelchairs and walkers,

with canes and crutches,

I saw a young man

whose gray eyes glittered

to a beat on the radio.

He pumps his fist in the air.

Music Man with gray eyes.

I wanted to talk to the Music Man,

but he lacked a language I understood.

Music Man, I wonder how I can communicate with you.

So, I watch you

and you watch me,

Music Man.

One day we stared at each other.

Your black curtain eyelashes raised and lowered

on the gray stage of your eyes

as you blinked and blinked

a Morse code

that began our first communication.

Music Man,

for months and months we communicated

through music and eyes

until one day I shared my name with you

and every day we rode the bus together.

Music Man,

to my amazement, you called my name.

I felt like a mother whose child called her “Mama”

for the first time,

Music Man with gray eyes.

                                                                                                                Monique R.