Driving by the bus stop across from the Lyric Theater

seeing that the art had been removed felt like an assault,

a sudden recognition of arts’ power

its healing, soothing attributes.

Perhaps the poor, the hungry,

the sick and addicted

are drawn to places with art

because of the beauty.

The art removal assault

reminded me of

the impact of art

that is not in a museum.

Art in community, in bus stops, on buildings

surrounds, reaches out, touches when we least expect it

giving us a glimmer of hope

when, sometimes there is little.

While I never stood in front of the bus stop art,

gazed at it, contemplated its meaning,

or how it was made

I felt it.

I saw it out of the corner of my eye driving by

or from across the street.

its power became strongest when

gone.

Being in arts’ presence calms, heals, soothes

the poorest human being needs it

as much as the better off, or the well to do

it’s what brings our community together.

We cannot orchestrate community alone

it takes all of us pulling for everyone

art is our only

hope.