pressing silently forward

i almost said hello

to a complete stranger the other day

as we passed

each other

on the path

leading to the lake.

nearly tipped my hat

with

the words, hello, almost

falling out of my

mouth with,

it's a beautiful day.

but i held back,

seeing the fear

in their eyes, and

i remembered my place,

i bit my tongue

and said nothing,

pressing silently forward,

that's how it works today.