The Willow Tree

strangers

i wonder what life would be like
if it was socially acceptable
to strike up a conversation with a stranger
to literally walk up to a passerby on the street
and ask him to lend you an ear for a handful of minutes
i don't mean small talk
but the one where you confess your innermost dark secrets
so you can let it out
and stop carrying the weight of the world on your shoulders
for once

strangers don't know us
so they have no expectations for us;
they don't expect a superhero
or a brilliant scientist
they wouldn't be disappointed if one turned out to be
a liar or a criminal

they would just listen
and sympathize with you;
to go about their day
feeling better about themselves
because they helped someone
or maybe because they are going through the same thing
and you made them realize that they are not alone