Stranger

 

 

Stranger

____

this day
as I journey
I come upon a stranger
standing by the road
looking sad

heavy box
held in his arms
clutched close to his breast

he stares
expressionless
into my eyes

his gaze stops me still
fixes me in place

his face is tired
and drawn
etched in withered worry

when at last I move
I draw near
as I do

close enough to see
this sullen man
is me

he offers out his hands
that open on the box

he beckons me retrieve
this container he protects

filled with apprehension

I reach
and grasp the case

lift it cautiously from his grip

lay it gently at my feet

it opens
as I do

slowly

to reveal
its haunting
strange contents

seven broken hearts

mute with wonder
I behold

confused
yet riveted

I ponder
as I do

then inquire of the meaning

these are yours
I am told

created by your deeds

cruelly left behind
as you ventured on

once
they each belonged
to one who trusted you

each trust you did betray
without a second thought

each love you tossed aside

abandoned carelessly

now the burden of this box
is mine beyond the grave

it was on a road like this
that it was passed to me

I have carried it too long

I am weary from the load

now you must bend and lift
and clutch it to your breast
to struggle with its weight

until you pass it on

someday
a stranger will approach
over that horizon

he will stop
and stare
transfixed by your presence

you will charge him with this chest

then he will lift
and carry
as I do

in a cycle of forever

for he too
will be you

____

rob kistner © 2008

_____________________

collage above entitled: “Heavy Box” — by: rob kistner © 2008