Poem

                                                           Village Streets

Back in '68 I caroused on Mac Dougal Street 
Crowded and boisterous, young people were living life
Bell bottom jeans and sandals were a staple
T-shirt a kaleioscope of red, purple, orange, yellow, green and blue.

Like a flood I was swept away into all the activity
Genders, sexualities, and races were many and varied
It was one happy party
Then I went away.

Life split us apart
I went across the country 
While you stayed behind 
Waiting for the day I would return.

I didn't return right away
Too many responsibilities
 I thought about you many times
But my return would be delayed.

Two score and two years have passed 
You've changed and so have I
Your love never waned 
For you knew that I would return someday. 

These pictures inspired me to write this poem. I was walking by this venerable church in 2010 when a wave of nostalgia swept over me. I sat down on bench you see here and reminisced how much this place had an affect on me in my growth as a person. Even today, I can remember when I saw people who wanted to make a difference in other people's lives. I saw people who were creative, vibrant, passionate, and caring. 

It's amazing that now, half century later, I'm still drawn to St. Marks Church. It was an active vibrant church back in 1968 and it still is today. Perhaps there are still more lessons for me to learn.