The late afternoon sky was magnificent,

Mounded with great clouds

Sweeping overhead at different altitudes,

Bathed in the slanted rays of the sun

Dropping into the scarlet west.

 

I stopped at the hospital entrance

Thronged with people

Coming and going with decisive steps,

Eyes cast down, focussed on private thoughts.

A little early for my appointment,

I leaned against the steel railing and looked up,

Enthralled by the beauty above my head.

A moment later I glanced aside

To make sure I was not impeding anyone

And stared straight into a smiling face

Watching me intensely.

The gentleman slowed his stride at once

And smiled.

 

'The clouds are beautiful!' I said.

'Yes.'

He spoke softly, for my ears only,

'Blown about by angel wings.'

And he walked on.

 

I was struck with delight.

His words were enchanting.

Did he know how charmed I was?

Perhaps he did.

My eyes must have reflected

That surge of joy.

Cynthia Buell Thomas, Jan, 2020