I’m in a city of 14.50 million
(give or take a few, including me)
souls. I know no-one
here. I’m a nano-human, a speck
in the smog. I make myself big
riding the subways with no-one
with light-coloured hair. No-one notices
the gweilo; the ghost-person, I think,
until I step into the deluge at Shanghai
Library, and a dark-haired
girl steps in time beside me, her umbrella
banishing the rain, her words, my ghostliness
“Where are you going?
Can I take you there?”
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Great Post
Thanks, Mukul.
Lovely poem. You conjure up wonderful images of the “stranger” in Shanghai.
Thanks, Patti. It’s wonderful to glimpse the humanity in strangers.
Hope you enjoyed your brief connection in a sea of anonymity.
It was enlightening, Nancy, as the complete anonymity was liberating.
This is exquisitely done, bb, and reminds me how the word “kindness” has the word “kin” in it, no matter where in the world, or how strange… .
Thanks, Cynthia.
That’s so true – we humans are more similar and more connected than we think. A few more of these random acts of kindness in Shanghai took the edges off my well-entrenched cynicism of the human race.
Very interesting pick up about the word kindness. We’recall humans with imperfections, and it makes sense to help each other out when we can 😊
It certainly does, Mabel.
Wow…that’s a lot of folks to be lost in…by the happy new years!
Happy New Year, Charles! 🙂
Safe travels, BB. Sounds like you are lost in adventure, and lots to love about that 😊
I thoroughly enjoyed my adventure, Mabel, even though it was for work purposes. 🙂
I love a random act of kindness – safe travels xxx
I was shown a few there, Dianne. Thanks, I’m home now. 🙂
What a lovely encounter and described in such a wonderful way. Love that photo of the tower. The colour!
Thanks, MOSY. It’s a spell-binding city on many levels.
I felt the strangeness of being alone among so many people in such a big city. And I felt the relief in finding someone who cared. Your words are truly powerful.
Thank you, Dor.
terrific poem – the meeting of a ghost with the locals 😉 – out of place and then befriended – cool! Also really love those photos (the city ones).
Thanks, Gabe. It’s an amazing city. I walked 20kms in the 2 free days I had there (the rest was work) taking in as much as I could. Sensory overload. 🤓
What were you doing in Shanghai? I wish you’d said hi.
I was there for work, GG, and, as a matter of fact, did think of you and asking you for some tips, but didn’t think you and your family would appreciate a blogger turning up on your non-blogging doorstep, as it were. 🙂
It’s nice to hear words like that….when you are in a strange place.
I was rather overwhelmed in Tokyo.
Yes, Tokyo can be, but I also encountered many friendly strangers there. 🙂
Wow, Shanghai! in my list to visit, i love big cities, we can disappear in them, we see everyone and no one sees us. Love your poem and photo!
Thanks, Elizabeth. Hope you get to go there. It’s a spell-binding place.