As I Sat Sadly By Her Side
As I sat sadly by her sideAt the window, through the glassShe stroked a kitten in her lapAnd we watched the world as it fell pastSoftly she spoke these words to meAnd with brand new eyes, open wideWe pressed our faces to the glassAs I sat sadly by her side
She said, “Father, mother, sister, brother,Uncle, aunt, nephew, niece,Soldier, sailor, physician, labourer,Actor, scientist, mechanic, priestEarth and moon and sun and starsPlanets and comets with tails blazingAll are there forever fallingFalling lovely and amazing”
Then she smiled and turned to meAnd waited for me to replyHer hair was falling down her shouldersAs I sat sadly by her side
As I sat sadly by her sideThe kitten she did gently passOver to me and again we pressedOur different faces to the glass“That may be very well”, I said“But watch the one falling in the streetSee him gesture to his neighboursSee him trampled beneath their feetAll outward motion connects to nothingFor each is concerned with their immediate needWitness the man reaching up from the gutterSee the other one stumbling on who can not see”
With trembling hand I turned toward herAnd pushed the hair out of her eyesThe kitten jumped back to her lapAs I sat sadly by her side
Then she drew the curtains downAnd said, “When will you ever learnThat what happens there beyond the glassIs simply none of your concern?God has given you but one heartYou are not a home for the hearts of your brothersAnd God does not care for your benevolenceAnymore than he cares for the lack of it in othersNor does he care for you to sitAt windows in judgement of the world He createdWhile sorrows pile up around youUgly, useless and over-inflated”
At which she turned her head awayGreat tears leaping from her eyesI could not wipe the smile from my faceAs I sat sadly by her side