Heavenly Queen

She was standing in the corner of the alley behind the bank. Her crumpled hair was greasy from a lack of bathing. Her faded jeans were tattered and her shirt was too thin to protect her from the coldness of the winter air. I couldn't understand why she kept standing there. I walked down the sidewalk with a list of things to do. The ice had melted from the warmth of the spring light. I noticed a young woman with three children standing by her side. They seemed to have a lack of food, but they never uttered a word or cry. I moved on, wondering why. The sun had made the summer seem so dreadfully hot. The wave of heat burnt my skin. I sat on the beach as I relaxed on my vacation. Looking around as the seagulls made a beautiful scene, I saw a woman staring back at me. She was walking along the sand, with two children hanging on to her hands. Her eyes were so empty and her face looked so old. Her children were laughing at jokes being told. Autumn foliage created a painting of earth. The leaves were piled in stacks. Walking through the park, I felt someone tap me on the back. With her face so close to mine, I realized who she was. The same young girl last winter I chose to ignore, happened to be the same woman I saw walking on the shore. She said she lost one child from the hunger they faced. Not a complaint did she utter as she told me the tale. Her eyes were still empty, and yet I failed to understand what I'd done. My logic seemed to have left me. It was gone. Winter came again to grace the land. I became so depressed of the wintery blues. I couldn't find a way to rejoice in the glory of the season, but there seemed to be something I was missing. I took a walk down the sidewalk by the bank. A woman stepped out of the shadows with a blanket for a wrap. Her eyes lit up with recognition, and her smile seemed to laugh. She invited me in her home. A little shack, without much room, seemed to collapse under the heavy winds. She took me by the hand and led me to the table to dine. It wasn't much to eat, but I could do without the wine. And then it began to hit me, as she spoke of memories, how foolish I've been. This woman has held on with so much strength with less than I've had. She still possessed the grace of an angel and the voice of a siren. This woman has shown me the iron steel of her strength. I couldn't believe it took me a year to realize who she was to me... The saving grace of the past below me and the present before me, as her children were the future to show me the grace of this heavenly queen. As my heart filled with a stranger's love, I noticed an angelic statue on the stove.inspired by the song that has a line of 'what if she's an angel?' i don't listen to country all that much anymore. don't know who sings it Written March 30th, 2002 © on Mar 30 2002 02:35 AM PST   0 • 8