The Happiest Christmas

On the cold and silent streets,

Christmas snow begins to fall,

A queen named Shelly wanders

with no destination at all.

Kingdom of tattered blankets,

braids a crown upon her head,

Selling comfort from her backpack,

anywhere that she’s led.

..

Shelly runs her shop with a heart that isn’t blind,

Bitter cold gnawing away at her peace of mind.

Better life just out of reach beyond her concrete domain

Hoping for a miracle, as the snow gives way to rain.

- .... .. -. -.-

Over the icy guardrail,

a stranger came her way,

Eyes full of compassion,

night turned to day.

His name was whispered softly,

as Shelly caught her breath,

A savior in the shadows,

offering life in death.

- ---

With sullen reluctance,

Shelly met his gaze,

There against the darkness,

charity full of grace.

A sandwich shared between them,

a simple act of love,

As the city slept around them,

the streets watched from above.

-- -.-- ... . .-.. ..-.

She spoke of cruel behaviors,

Of things best left unsaid.

She spoke of kids, a life,

The thoughts of home tumbling from her head.

Her eyes grew far and distant,

As she thoughtfully chewed her food.

He listened to her patiently,

Anything less would be quite rude.

.-- .... .- -

He spoke of kin and kindness,

of a love that never ends,

Shelly listened closely,

her heart began to mend.

A quiet Christmas miracle,

as they talked into the night,

Experienced through mortal eyes,

but known to holy sight.

.-

“Rabbi, is it time?” she asked, sipping beverage hot,

“Away from all these men who buy whatever it is I’ve got.”

She leads him down an empty street, and quickly finds a spot.

Laying down beneath the trash, she inflates a makeshift cot.

.-- --- -. -.. . .-. ..-. ..- .-..

As dawn approached,

the world awakened with a yawn,

The man vanished like the mist,

leaving Shelly on a lawn.

Bankers pass a corpse frozen

away from sun’s embrace,

A blanket clutched in frozen fist,

a smile upon her face.

.-- --- .-. .-.. -.. .-.-.-