Connecting Lives

out
side
a
new
sense:


Streets of shops,
a child's music box twirling plastic ballerina's
and old tin pictures of dreams in half-tones
I acquire a mysterious connection,
passing from one person to another --
my mind wanders back to an old record player,
thick rubber disks,
crackling background sounds -


looking for the restroom --
scents of old wood and warm dust
crowd narrow aisles

mildewed books, bent tins and pipes,
askew upon a man's dresser,
down the last aisle,
outside again ,
sunshine and fresh air
follow me into the next shop,
stuck in a corner,
display cased jewels,
an old torn box of single beads
haphazardly thrown together
amber and black glass,
Venetian mosaic and Turkish tasbeh,

old worry beads -
three times a day
pennance prayers now cold
to the touch

an antique dresser and a tiny wooden box edged in brass,

a young girl's locket,
my fingers reach
for the small heart
just beyond ;
secrets

overhead chandelier stars twinkle,
reflected in uneven waves
of antique mirrors, holding deep,
ancient skies and distant planets,
the sparkle of tiffany lamps,
splashes of sunset in dust
------------------------------------------------------------------