Blind Man Crossing the Street

[good4somethingbum]

Blind Man Crossing the StreetI was runnin’ late as it was, Stuck behind a smoky city busHit my signal and changed lanes but the light turned redI sat there just dreading my day, Knew my petty boss’d dock my payAnd my thoughts swam with my obligations and debtsThen somethin’ in plain sight right in front of meShowed me a light I never thought I’d seeA frail old man with a candy stripe caneStepped slowly into the crosswalk on MainHe stared straight ahead toward nothin’ at allHe’d go nowhere if he was afraid to fallBut faith in God seemed to guide his feetAs I watched the blind man crossing the streetHe knows it’s exactly thirty stepsFrom one downtown curb to the nextAnd if he smells grits he’s near Sarge’s caféIf he hears children play and puppies barkHe knows he’s almost near the parkAnd flags flappin’ high tell him he’s at the VABut he almost tripped when a garbage truckHonked his horn so that poor man’d hurry upYeah, a frail old man with a candy stripe caneStepped slowly into the crosswalk on MainHe stared straight ahead toward nothin’ at allHe’d go nowhere if he was afraid to fallBut faith in God seemed to guide his feetAs I watched the blind man crossing the streetWhen the lights changed I thanked heaven he was safeAnd prayed to face life with the courage and graceOf a frail old man with a candy stripe caneWho stepped slowly into the crosswalk on MainHe stared straight ahead toward nothin’ at allHe’d go nowhere if he was afraid to fallBut faith in God seemed to guide his feetAs I watched the blind man crossing the street©2008 Robert George