Take Care and be Safe

The young man, still wet behind the ears,

Writes up a ticket fro me to sign for speeding.

As he hands me back my license,

He asks what I do for a living.

On learning that I am a teacher,

He says, “Well Ma’am you are very important,

Please slow down take care and be safe.”

I pulled away and tears flowed down my cheeks.

They were not tears because of the ticket,

Or the inconvenience of time and money,

But rather for the fact that,

In my crazy and upside-down turned day,

Someone reminded me that I mattered,

And for that, I am eternally grateful.