My Sunday Sunday Co-Star

Sheer coincidence or fate?

I may never know

It was the 4th time I went to that church.

As the mass went on, I leaned back

just enough to let the sweet voice behind me fill my head.

I needed that voice to find my own hymnal melody;

the harmony, once I found it, must have gladdened the hearts of Angels

I couldn't wait to share my peace with her,

the source of that voice that helped me gladden the heart of Angels.

I turned around, with outstretched arms and a warm smile,

I hoped my eyes showed how blessed I felt,

sitting within ear shot of her.

I hoped the glint in my eyes

would speak the warmth that was in my heart.

I hoped she would see, 

not just my lips, but the smile in my heart,

through my eyes.

With outstretched arms and a smile, 

I stood.

She looked at me...she looked past me.

I didn't understand...I really didn't think to 

I stood.

He took my hand and whispered 

"she doesn't see"

I smiled.

I hoped he saw my smile;

I hoped he saw the glint in my eyes;

I hoped he knew that I felt even more blessed;

I hoped he would tell her the tale of the little black girl blessed by her voice.

Every sunday since, 

I have sat in the pew in front of her 

and allowed myself create harmonies

with a stranger

to gladden the hearts of Angels.

I never wondered about her sight,

silly me.

She was old but not frail,

she stood and knelt and walked with him as a guide.

She had a smile and oh that voice...

I never really wondered about her age.

For a woman so beautiful, graceful and strong,

she had to be a grandma with just a few years past 70 to her name.

It was my first time at an Evening Mass,

It was the day before valentine and there was food, wine and dance.

When the Lector said we had a special birthday,

I got excited at the thought of extra cake.

He said she was beautiful,

I thought about all the pretty pictures that would make.

He said she was a great grand mother,

I wondered if she would stand through photos and not shake.

He said her name,

I looked up,

and there she was...

my sunday sunday co-star in my harmony for the Angels.

She stood, walked, hugged, danced and ate,

She wore a birthday tiara and blew out her candles,

she posed for photos and smiled too.

Through it all he stood by her,

guiding her and whispering to her.

He made sure she never bumped her feet.

He made sure she smiled all night long.

Then it made sense to me.

She is 96 and beautiful;

Aged but not frail;

Healthy and happy and content.

She turned 96

And she was still the apple of his eye.

She had the man she loved,

and he loved her too.

She is 96 and beautiful.

His love obviously kept her so.