"Amazing Grace"

a walk, somber as a death march
through dark, lonely streets of dusk
dead tree branches strewn about brittle brown grass
fallen, rotting leaves fill the gutters
a set of pounding, lifeless footsteps on the pavement
howling wind that harshly whips its intruders
bare hands shoved deep into pockets of ratty jeans, lacking gloves to keep their fingers from going numb
eyes aimed low towards the ground
icy, fat drops of rain plop and splash onto the ground, making mud out of the dusty dirt
it couldn’t get worse if it tried
something stirred in the wind, and above it flowed the soft, sweet sound of music
it drifted gently around in the air, waiting to be heard
          “Amazing grace, how sweet the sound...”
eyes slid up, looking around in attempt to find the source of this beautiful music
at the horizon, a faint glow of sunlight began to shine through the clouds
          “...that saved a wretch like me...”
the tree branches had tiny green buds on their tips, about to bloom
eyes, fully open and alert, saw areas of green amidst the brown grass
birds soaring about in sky and squirrels running up trunks of trees, cheeks loaded with nuts
people bustling about on streets
          "...I once was lost, but now am found...”
the wind died down a notch and the rain lightened up
a rainbow appeared at the opposite horizon
hands in pockets brushed against warm gloves who’s presence had been forgotten
he pulled them out, looked at them, and smiled
          “...was blind but now I see.”

Copyright Mallery January 2002