by jennifer mckay

Argentina bus station evening 6 Nov 2025 Guarani and Toba (Qom) land

To be the recipient of kindness
At an Argentinian bus station I stand, moving onward
To pay it forward

Alone, ticket folded, I learn the hush of gestures and the witness
A woman at the kiosk taps my phone, uses Google Translate, points onward
To be the recipient of kindness

A man parts the crowd, clearing a path when no visa stamp was given
He says la contraseña, slow and patient, the syllables leaning toward
To pay it forward

I think of the small ledger at home, the desire to provide for loved ones, a quiet witness
A stranger lifts my bag, sketches the route with a finger, sends me onward
To be the recipient of kindness

Night hums through platforms, announcements like a distant, careful witness
I hand back a coin, a pen, a smile; the world tilts, forgiven or driven onward
To pay it forward

Morning will find me passing on the umbrella, the phrase, the number, a soft witness
I will tell the next lost traveler la contraseña and point them toward
To be the recipient of kindness
To pay it forward

* la contraseña is password in Spanish