I was heading up Sixth Avenue and stopped to buy a new watch cap from a street vendor. As I pulled it on an old man approached me. His blue eyes burned and his hair was white as snow. I noticed that his wool gloves were unraveling and his left hand was bandaged.
—Give me the money you have in your pocket, he said.
Either I am being tested, I thought, or I have wandered into the opening of a modern fairy tale. I had a twenty and three singles, which I placed in his hand.
—Good, he said after a moment, and then returned the twenty.
I thanked him and continued on, more buoyant than before.
~ Patti Smith, M Train
Notes:
- Image: GeorgianCollege.ca
- Related Patti Smith Post: I believe in movement. I believe in that lighthearted balloon, the World.
pass on what you have, to someone who hasn’t. everything is fluid. it comes and goes, ebb and flow.
pay it forward….yes.
Abundance is letting go!
Hopefully leaving some cash for train fare! 🙂
Amazing…Scary and full of grace!
Agree!
Touched!!!
Wonderful story. I agree!
Love the purity and simplicity of this exchange. Give what you have, take only what you need…
Yes. And the potential alternatives to the story.
Walk by and don’t acknowledge.
Fear that Man pulls knife or gun.
Man takes money and offers no thanks.
Etc.
Oh, don’ think that this wasn’t the first scenario that shot through my mind, which made me sad in and of itself….
WLS – and leave it to Ms. smith to isolate the perfect adjective – ‘buoyant’ – yes!
Yes!
Wow. So interesting. The humanity.
And coming from unexpected places…
Hahaha that would be a wild experience – love that he returns the twenty! <3
Diana xo
Yes…
Full disclosure — drafting off the earlier comments and your responses and nodding all along. …uh huh, yeah….nod.
Buoyant. Perfect.
Smiling. Thanks Bonnie.
He might have said “please.”
Yes, he may have been tired from asking, all day long…and was shocked that anyone stopped….
The photo freaked me out David. If the guy looked at me like that I would feel threatened and concerned about my safety.
If he was small and smiled, or was a woman I would give without thinking….
Interesting perspectives!
Laughing. Pic Knocked the gentleness right out of the story!