Strangers

Strangers open up to me
Its Interesting
Bring told
Intimate details
Of an existence
60 seconds ago
Did not exist

There’s a Lady
In Clifton
Who I’m pretty sure
Alluded
To killing her Husband

The Student
Brimming with remorse
Cheated
On his girlfriend
McDonalds toilet
Clumber Street

The Woman
Who’s womb lay dormant
Newborn whispers
Pain swaddling her

The Roadman who
Busses shots
To build his Mama
A small island home

A baby
With her baby
3 Fathers
Still
No Dad

A proud woman
Works hard
pays her bills
In another’s
Name
Illegal
Alien

An 80 year old
Veteran
Closes his eyes
Reliving enemies
Humans
Dead
By his hands

A less-abled
Non binary
Stutters
Spits
Take 2 minutes to say
‘People avoid me’
I waited
Patiently

A beautiful eyed man
Broken English
Homesick
Home bombed
Dentist in his Country
Terrorist in mine

The funny old croon
Smelling of Gin
And talcum powder
Hasn’t had any
Nookie
since ’96

I listen
I nod
I laugh where appropriate
Tilt my head where needed

In awe
Of the
Trust
They feel
Humbled
By the
Safe space
They see in me
Humoured
By the inevitable
‘I don’t know why I’m telling you this’

But
They continue
Speaking
Their truths
Their inner fears
Their unfulfilled dreams