Hello, she said, and startled me.

Nice day. Nice day I agreed.

I am a Quaker she said and Sunday

I was moved in silence

to speak a poem loudly

for racial brotherhood.

I was thoughtful, then said

what poem came on like that?

One the moment inspired she said.

I was again thoughtful.

Inexplicably I saw

empty city streets lit dimly

in a day’s first hours.

Alongside in darkness

was my father’s big banana field.

Where are you from? she said.

Jamaica I said.

What part of Africa is Jamaica? she said.

Where Ireland is near Lapland I said.

Hard to see why you leave

such sunny country she said.

Snow falls elsewhere I said.
So sincere she was beautiful

as people sat down around us.

James Berry