He trudges the back streets
Sparrow thin ribs
Stork legs
A hippo's face
Snorts the trash
Hope vanished
Thinks,'Just stay alive'
'Just stay alive.'
A bent over vicar
Watches him
Kindness overflowing
To the heart of this trashed man
One day I will approach him
Though I tremble
I'll spear my eyes to his
Fumbling
Reach out for God's sake
Woo the entangled posture
Tune the hippo mouth
Feed the leg and rib
That here on earth
He lives in Paradise
Beyond sin
Beyond the hopelessness of his earthly life.
I pray, approaching this disfigured man
He backs behind trash cans
'Come' I plead, we are of one kind
We live in paradise.
He ventures toward my voice
His ribs spread open
Legs thicken
A smile on now a manly face
I kneel and pray thanks to God
I rise; he closer bends his arms
Hugs me gently,
Cries tears of love.
