by Ralph Koschnitzke

Created on: March 16, 2010

Ten steps past a dark recess
In the crowded streets of mire
A concrete city over exposed,
To winds of social fire.

The loudness deafens, overwhelms my senses
I stride over trash and stains
I feel its pulse, I feel its pressure
Blood, through asphalt veins.

Ten steps past the dark recess
My mind, it stops and hears.
A meek whisper of hope, so softly spoken.
A meek whisper of hope, less tears.

Suddenly I stop for fear
My angels touched my shoulder.
My thoughts go back once more to hear
Sound undefined, passed over.

"What did she say?", I asked my angels.
While compelled to turn my back.
While the city passed me by
I locked into my tracks.

Ten steps back, the recess of dark,
On a city street so bold
You feel the thoughts of passers by.
Not warm but heartless cold.

"Excuse me sir, could you spare some change?"
The face in darkness shown.
"I haven't eaten, please help me sir."
My heart, like broken stone.

The streets they cried, "Don't give them more!
Ignore the crack addicted whore!
Don't feed my birds, don't cross my streets!
Walk on, pass by no more!"

"Let them cry," I caught myself.
This quiet young angel fell
From heaven unknown, and never seen
Blame not, one birthed in hell.

Against the rules so fascist writ,
I searched my soul by reason,
The words, "For as you help the least of them.
This then you've done to him."

Again streets cry, with passers by,
"Ignore the addict, whore!
Stop the pain, and go away,
Come back this way no more!"

Ignore!, Say why!, For there was I,
Strode ten steps back, the door.
A darkened face, a painful place
Her grief and hunger, passed, implored.

I'll always remember that little one
Who whispered, hurt and harmless.
In recesses of city heat,
With streets, so icy, heartless.

My angels stopped me cold that day
Warmed, made my heart a test.
From only ten steps, I went beyond,
Beyond that dark recess.

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