I saw god today in east harlem
as i was walking up third avenue
low grade despair the yoke upon my back
my eyes intent upon the broken glass
upon the broken lives the dealers
dealing those who hunger and thirst cocaine
and crack my ears assaulted by
that raging scream satanic symphony
of noise without beginning end or pause
i saw her sitting on a sun drenched stoop
no longer young but not quite middle-aged
clothed with the low cost beauty of the poor
bleached hair her halo of strange holiness
around a face dark brown and tired but now
transformed to utter loveliness as she
leaned down welcoming the little child
who ran to her with shout of joy that in an instant changed all noise to music
when their two lips kissed all thirst was quenched
their eyes were locked in that eternal gaze
of mutual and pure delight that moves
the galaxies and moved me there to shed
my old and worn-out skin and put on
wisdom for a while and gentleness and
walk with reverence on that holy ground.

Eve Kavanagh,rscj
Sept. 15, 1989