If a person feels like prey
it is natural to strive for invisibility.
Our job in this world
is to help people trust
that with us, at least,
they are not prey.
There is a simple way to do this.
Ask everyone their name,
and thank them.
The restaurant worker, the medical technician,
the mail carrier,
the security guard.
If you do this every day
you string a strand of pearls.
Your face starts to glow and
people will see
I am a human being, just like you.
We live here together, on this planet.
I mean you no harm.