the secret of the universe...

i found the universal language of the world
in the simple secret smile of a peasant woman
coffee toned skin rippled with harsh years
of trekking across sparse and unforgiving mountain paths
untamed hair whispering in a dusty breath of wind
brittle hands worn smooth
spoke of survival
crooked fingers laced cross her little one
intimately brushed his cherubic cheek-
delicate wings of a wisened cricket.

amidst my raptuous voyeurism
our eyes caught and connected.
the glimmer of a smile in those deep seasoned eyes-
our faces, a mirror of the secret smile shared.
without a word, she spoke words i've known forever:

"my child...
we are a mirror,
sculpted in the same eternal mold.
we are one...
for our shared joy in this moment
holds every secret in the universe."