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Friday 19 April 2019

ON A TRAIN IN JAPAN

I have an appetite for politeness,
Old school, I know, out of fashion, lost cause.
And what brought on this hunger pang? A bow,
Effortless, graceful, a moment, a pause
To widen the eyes and drop the jaw.

A uniformed attendant on a train
Walked the carriage to a connecting door.
She turned to face us, warm smile on her lips,
Bowed her head, more than a nod, but no more,
Turned again and carried on her duties.

It was as brief and effective as that,
An indicator that complicating
Humanity and human goodness
Is what we’ve become, subordinating
The purity of natural kindness.

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