As I Sat Sadly By Her Side

as i sat sadly by her side

At the window, through the glass

She stroked a kitten in her lap

And we watched the world as it fell past

Softly she spoke these words to me

And with brand new eyes, open wide

We pressed our faces to the glass

As i sat sadly by her side



She said, "father, mother, sister, brother,

Uncle, aunt, nephew, niece,

Soldier, sailor, physician, labourer,

Actor, scientist, mechanic, priest

Earth and moon and sun and stars

Planets and comets with tails blazing

All are there forever falling

Falling lovely and amazing"



Then she smiled and turned to me

And waited for me to reply

Her hair was falling down her shoulders

As i sat sadly by her side



As i sat sadly by her side

The kitten she did gently pass

Over to me and again we pressed

Our different faces to the glass

"that may be very well", i said

"but watch the one falling in the street

See him gesture to his neighbours

See him trampled beneath their feet

All outward motion connects to nothing

For each is concerned with their immediate need

Witness the man reaching up from the gutter

See the other one stumbling on who can not see"



With trembling hand i turned toward her

And pushed the hair out of her eyes

The kitten jumped back to her lap

As i sat sadly by her side



Then she drew the curtains down

And said, "when will you ever learn

That what happens there beyond the glass

Is simply none of your concern?

God has given you but one heart

You are not a home for the hearts of your brothers



And god does not care for your benevolence

Anymore than he cares for the lack of it in others

Nor does he care for you to sit

At windows in judgement of the world he created

While sorrows pile up around you

Ugly, useless and over-inflated"



At which she turned her head away

Great tears leaping from her eyes

I could not wipe the smile from my face

As i sat sadly by her side


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