panama :: corner man

he stood
he sat
he saw
on calle 8a oeste
of casco viejo.
this corner, that corner, this corner again.

large metal canister on a narrow shoulder
he had dealings with our hostel.
for what, it didn't matter so much.
what did, was that he seemed invested in the people who stayed there.
he seemed invested in us.

he acknowledged us every time we came and went.
a gentle nod, a smile, a heart that welcomed.
there was not a time he was not there.

his presence reassured me in this foreign land.
a stranger of strangers made me feel at home.

o, beautiful encounter.