Warm, dark hands tied the sash
at my waist then guided me to
a Christmas Carol stage where
magic twinkled in electric stars.
From the edge of the curtain I heard him
urge me to sing snowmen could dance
and angels had sugar plum wings.
When the music stopped he spoke,
“Follow my voice. I’ll guide you
where you can’t see to bring you safely to me.
I didn’t know 1957 sorted skin by colors or words
could be sharper than knives….I was a little girl
trusting kindness would not let me fall.
©Susie Clevenger 2018
When I was in the first grade I met one of the kindest men I've ever known. His name was Mr. Kelly and he was our school janitor. Well, his title was janitor, but he was much more than that. I like to think of him as a guardian angel. He always had time to help tie shoes or ribbon sashes, wipe tears, or guide noisy, wiggly children onto a Christmas pageant stage. This poem is about the six year old me who didn't see the color of his skin, only his kindness, his tender care.
Real Toads Wordy Thursday
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