A handmade sign
Reading “Free Hugs”
In the corner of
my eye in a
sea of “I’m fine”
City poker faces
in Times Square
of all places
Where no one
“has the time” to
stop & wonder
Why he feels the
need to offer
Friendship to a
Complete stranger
Gretchen Leary 2013
Gretchen Venters 
Powerful poem Gretchen! “in a sea of “I’m fine”…we forget that we’re all in it together and need to support each other. Well written 🙂
Yes. I had never walked by someone with a sign like that before and I almost want to ask HIM if he needed a hug but I was hard enough to keep up with my friend that I thought I couldn’t stop to talk to him. He looked … Lonely
I’m not sure I would feel comfortable offering hugs to complete strangers, but indeed, that question of “why” is rather intriguing.
Same here but I felt bad and intrigued too
smiles…it is the sea of i am fine poker faces that concerns me you know…that we go through life often trying to feel numb to what we are really feeling…i applaud the one willing to give hugs…on some level it may be creepy, but…perhaps he has been there and realizes he might be able to save a few…