I shook a hand today
Didn’t mean to
Don’t know how it happened
A hand reached for mine
I reacted
Without thinking
A lifetime of training
Caused me to reach back
Our union caught us both by surprise
Our eyes met for a moment
Over masked mouths
What now?
What had we done?
It felt good to be touched
Reminded I’m here
Reminded you’re you
Our rare connection
Transported time
Memories of crowds cheering
Hugs and high-fives
Before all this
When someone reached out
You met them halfway
Now afraid to reach out
Afraid to reach back
We’re not made to not reach
Not made for solo
What could more connections create?
Could we scoop Laura’s tears
to quench Cali’s flame?
Could we pry cowboy fingers from triggers untamed?
Could we purple the people from red and blue camps?
I don’t know
I shook a hand today
Didn’t mean to
Don’t know how it happened
What now?
What have we done?