HandRail Hands

I've never been the one to avoid using handrails on buses or subways,

I hear "try not to touch that's" and "no sweetie that's dirty's" from concerned parents with their first borns,  

But,

I see the handrails as outstretched hands of help,

Holding our five fingers tight like you did on that first REAL date back in high school,

You know,

A little tense and a little sweaty,

See- these handrails have been here far more often than we have,

They are familiar with the bumps in the roads and the rattles of the tracks,

Far more familiar than we ever could get,

They take the bumps and rattles with such strength and guidance,

They fill our hands and our bodies with reassurance and stability,

When we are feeling the most off balance,

That's why I ride the bus,

And the subway,

Because in life we occasionally struggle to find our handrail,

And the bumps and rattles will knock us off our roads and rails,

But on the bus,

And the subway,

I will hold that handrail tight like I did SoAndSo's hand at the fair that summer many moons ago,

I will feel safe,

I will be the follower on my way to my stop,

I will pull the cord,

Take a deep breath getting ready to face my bumps and rattles with no guiding hand,

And let go