Hello How are you?

Is that smile a genuine greeting

 or a nervous flash before you make your retreat?

 Returning to your place among the masses

like nervous waves thrust upon the shore, returning to the sea.

I only wanted to say hello. What are you so afraid of?

It is amazing to me the way we are all so close together

but so far apart

to many times doing our best to stay out of each others way

moving down crowded city streets like a wave of nervous cattle

until we are herded into office buildings, factories, stores

corraled into office cubicals, desks, registers or machines

being fed on someone elses ideas, opinions

chasing someone elses dreams and silencing our own

doing our best not to talk on crowded subways, buses and trains

doing our best not to look directly at each other

just giving careful curious glances

when someone speaks even to say hello

there seems to be surprise for a moment

then often a quick response

how is it that we have become so accustomed to living so seperately

what are we waiting for?

Smile, say hello, ask How are you?

Strike up a conversation

make someone laugh or smile

It may make them feel good and you too

dont let another moment slip away without taking the chance

to greet your fellow human

if we all wait for someone else to do it

the silence will continue

Hello, How are you?