Kindness Spreads like Blood

What if the cashier said, “Thank you” 

and meant it 

and the person in front of you

held the door open 

for you too, and if 

the next face you saw 

was smiling so wide 

you just wanted to know why. 

 

Would your eyes twinkle too

as if the sky was just that

specific shade of blue

and the clouds that float by

look like an elephant in a tutu?

 

Would that happiness spread

through the hamburger you give

the guy on the street

because no one needs

the second quarter-pounder with cheese?

 

Would you walk your dog a little faster

so she could sniff what she’s after

and dance on the leash

as she greets everyone she meets

as someone important and a friend

who’s worth knowing and then

play chase in the park

‘til we all get tuckered out.

 

Then the other doggy moms and dads

would smile too, and that might be

because of you.