From Afar
Shards of glass and excrement bathe the cement
underfoot, not to care, I ease the trash aside
descending steps into dankness, the cold swallows me
rumbling down, faded lights, the harried crowds spill out
From afar, your veil reaches my sight,
a common scene along this walk
you sit in unassuming meekness, a tattered cup close by
your graceful arms embrace a sleeping child, rocking
Do I meet your gaze, smile a “bonjour”
fumble in my purse, or extend my Evian?
there are days, I trust a shiny coin to ease your plight
hold your eyes, a pained grin, silent prayer my toll to pass
Other times, my heart clenches at the bother, like my fists,
avert my face, scan a poster on the wall,
pretend I don’t sense your presence there at all
dare I say your pain hurts too much.
You remain brave in your despair,
Awed by your strength to barely exist
Where’s the source of your hope?
A vision of life to come, on earth as it is in heaven
So much more to you than the label of the street,
not just a beggar at our feet.
were you once a treasured daughter in another world?
what heartbreak brought you here to your knees?
And your child…as he sleeps does he dream a child’s dream?
green fields and footballs,
ice cream and Gameboys
a different time, another life, anywhere but here
From afar and too near, Lord, I am shamed to know
You perceive my awkward steps as I plod by –
guilt, pity, fleeting grief, and the vanquishing,
your floundering diplomat of grace
Daughter of Eve, bone of your bone, flesh of your flesh,
my heart longs to show this true, my life reflects this not
yet you love her with your Creator’s heart
teach me to love her as though she’s You
Draw near Lord, draw near, and show us that you’re here
In the unseen faces that surround,
the dismissed,
the disgarded,
the least of these.
- anne d kittrell, May 2006
No comments:
Post a Comment