Poetry

The Message

The snow has not yet fallen,

But the day is coming near,

And all around I can see

The angels' eyes filled with tears.

It is the time for joy and laughter,

Why do they cry so?

I glance around searching,

For what could make them feel so low.

That's when I see him,

All alone.

Cold,

    Freezing,

         Quivering,

              His beard white from snow.

My own eyes fill up with tears,

When I see the woman walk by him.

He trembles on the sidewalk,

Crunched up against the wall.

Asks for some change,

To get a coffee or some food.

His eyes look down,

Afraid,

      Distraught,

             Hopeful,

                     Hopeless.

Her eyes full of hate and loathing,

Avoid the man.

She walks by,

Sneering,

          Annoyed,

                 Ignorant,

                       Afraid.

She doesn't know his past,

But she judges him as if she is God.

Who is she to judge?

His eyes close, 

Denied, once again.

The angels' eyes rest on me, 

And smile.

And then I see the hope.

A little boy walks up to him,

And his wet eyes slowly look up,

The little boy reaches out and hands him,

All that he owns in the world.

Gives the man a hug, and smiles,

And the man once again has hope.

The little boy knows more than I,

Hope breeds hope.

All it takes is a smile.

The angels' message has reached me.

S. Wallace, 2010