sudden awakening

today I woke up
with a strange feeling
of freedom
covering my skin
an emotion
I've never known before

it was a sudden awakening
free from fears, worries, and
all those things that tend to cast
a shadow over our happiness
I felt that instead of walking
I was being moved by wings
wanting to live and be happy, and
once again
I felt the childish impulse
of wanting to say “I love you”
an urgent feeling
that I thought I had lost
long ago in my past

despite of my eagerness to share
such an exceptional feeling
I could not walk down the street
declaring my affection
to random passers-by
as if I were… a madman
in a simple and
conventional manner
I chose to say "good morning"

some people
responded “good morning”
some others
responded “have a good day”, and
I wondered  
if they also meant to say
“I love you”, or if
just like me, they were hiding
some affectionate feeling
although, I know
they responded
out of kindness
a strange feeling
akin to love
that also makes you
feel good
 
and
such was kindness
that I could see then clearly
that the world is full
of wonderful people
 
the florist 
the bus driver
the rubbish collector
the traffic warden
the building porter
the secretaries and
the manager in the office
thousands and thousands of people
 
each with their own trade
from their workplace
in their own way
of being happy and
earning a living
strives to have
a better future and
makes of this city
a wonderful place
to live, and
whether out of love or kindness
there are many reasons
to be grateful to them

despite my eagerness to share
such an exceptional feeling
when returning home 
I could not walk down the street
declaring my gratitude
to random passers-by
as if I were... a madman
in a simple and
conventional manner
I chose to say “good evening” 
along with the prayer
"and may you be as happy
as I am or, perhaps
much more”