Ode to a Street Prophet,

Dundas Square.

There were a million people walking this way and that; all business. Going, going, going – we were all cogs in the machine - Robots, performing our duties, mindless and non present.

And then you popped out from the crowd; walking against the flow of human traffic, moving slower then the others, looking around, pointing at the passers by, shouting “Jesus” at the top of your lungs. You wore a mask of tin foil to hide your face.

My friend led me across the street and away from your oncoming self. I suppose that was wise, as neither of us knew whether or not you were harmless. But from the other side of the street, I watched you still. You stood on a fire hydrant and preached the gospel. Maybe you were crazy, but you were not a robot. Not mindless. Completely present. Amongst all these automatons who would never understand real meaning, you were standing defiantly, unafraid to speak your truth no matter what anyone thought, no matter if it even made sense to anyone but yourself!

I had to respect that.

Some call you crazy. Some call you paranoid. Some call you mentally defective.

I call you inspiring.

I would I lived my life as honestly as you.