mercy train

en route to brooklyn this evening
via train
and after maybe one too many cocktails
i noticed a man
with particularly horrible skin
and for some reason
mentioned to the friend of mine standing beside me
whose twin is a pastor
"hey maybe your brother can cure that guy
like, you know, what was that disease... in the bible?"
"leprosy?"
"yeah, that"

within a moment or two
it didn't take any longer
my mind answered back
what was that remark all about?
where would it have even come from?

"that's sad"
i immediately spewed forward
"what's sad?"
my friend asked in response
"that i said that..."
and then, a moment or two later
"it's not sad,"
he replied
"it's just mean"

head lowering
awareness
nod

we continued on our ride under water
laughing as if nothing had changed
but it had become clear to me
after just one silly, stupid statement

practice what you preach
i say
to self
practice what you preach