Influence me.

Here I am before you now – open to it. Begging for it. Yearning for an influence.

My eyes are closed. My ears are open.

Influence me and wash away all I’ve learned. Speak to me again for the very first time as if I’d never known man to be cruel.
Teach me acts of kindness, forgiveness, and humility.

Make me believe I’ve nothing to fear, because you are my friend.
Close your eyes with mine so we may escape judgment and learn to see anew.

Influence me with a simple smile and I promise to follow; my neighbor, my friend, influence me.

This piece was submitted to Getty Images in participation of the worldwide Change Me project. (best viewed in Internet Explorer)