Invisible Child

Wanting so desperately to be seen,

To be acknowledged.

There you were among the throngs

Of people crowding Time Square,

Waiting to cross the street.

You thought you were invisible

In the sea of legs.

You were reaching your little

Hand upward as your body

Strained against the straps

Holding you in your stroller.

You were waving frantically

To attract the attention of

Just one, just one of the many

That towered above you.

Just one was all you needed.

You just wanted to be seen.

They appeared to be absorbed in their

Own thoughts or engaged in conversation

With others at their own level.

Their world seemed to be

Separate from yours

And your tiny voice was lost in the din.

There I stood on the opposite side

Of the intersection

Like the others, waiting

For the light to change.

I saw you ‘Little One’, and

as I watched you

It stirred emotions deep within.

I was remembering feeling

Unseen and unheard.

Remembering being next to another

But, seemingly invisible.

.

I knew that when the light turned green

I would find my way to you.

I did not know how.

I just knew we would connect.

As the crowd pushed against me

I was guided by an unseen hand.

There we were, you and I

In the middle of the street.

Time stood still for us.

It was like there was a bubble

of space around us.

I was down on one knee

Beside you, right at your eye level.

Our eyes met and locked.

Soul to Soul we were

And our smiles reflected that joy.

I could hear myself saying,

I see you ‘Little One’.

You are loved and

You are seen.

Remember that truth ‘Little One’,

Remember that truth.

Then an unseen hand guided

Me to my feet and

Across the street.

I could feel your eyes on me,

Pleading with me to turn around.

I turned and there you were

Your little body twisted around,

One hand clutching

the back of your stroller

The other wildly waving.

Once again, our eyes met.

The light in your eyes so bright

It was illuminating Time Square.

Your smile so big it

Consumed your little face.

Your joy radiated from your

Heart, rippling outward

Like the ripples from a 

pebble dropped in a pond.

One hand on my heart,

The other wildly waving

My eyes locked with yours

Until you disappeared into the crowd.

My heart at peace

Knowing that you had been seen,

I had been seen.

I was no longer invisible.

A wound healed.

A truth remembered.

Now, upon reflection

Time Square,

Broadway,

Empire State Building,

Central Park,

Botanical Gardens,

Metropolitan Museum of Art,

All impressive experiences.

The details no longer clear.

But, you ‘Little One’.

I feel your joy.

I see the light in your eyes

And your dark curly hair  

framing your little face

Consumed by your

Magnificent smile.

I feel the essence of your Soul

And our magical connection

as if it was yesterday.

You are forever in my heart

‘Little One’.

Forever in my heart.

I see you ‘Little One’,

You are not invisible.

Remember that truth ‘Little One’,

Remember that truth.

Katharina Reed

April 2022