A businessman reluctantly, finds himself sitting next to a crippled girl on a flight to New York, unaware that the child was about to dramatically, change his life forever.

My story now I must relate,
and make you all believe?
A tale that strangely tempted fate
a dirge that you may grieve.

I booked a flight to New York City,
The last one of the night.
For maimed or crippled, I no pity
I need to make that flight.

A cripple girl got in my way,
a wheelchair she did ride.
I had no time for her this day,
and bundled her aside.

I rushed to board and find my seat,
Placed laptop on my knee.
My business plan I must complete,
my colleagues need to see.

My seat in business class was good,
with ample room for feet.
But I got mad, it's understood,
when spied adjacent seat.

The cripple girl was placed right down,
in seat adjoining mine.
I glanced at her and gave a frown,
her smile was so divine.

With angel’s voice she spoke to me,
asked how I was today.
no patience I to speak so free,
I growled and turned away.

Further questions I ignored,
‘til she turned quiet and meek.
I guess she finally got so bored,
with urging me to speak.

I’d no regrets for what I'd done,
No thoughts of self-despise.
No time for kids, or anyone,
infirm or otherwise.

I closed my work, began to doze,
all quiet as a church.
Then jolted from my quiet repose,
the plane began to lurch.

The girl she struggled with her belt,
the seat belt sign was on.
Another violent lurch was felt,
and then the child had gone.


She struggled, neither safe nor sound,
the plane began to dive.
People screaming all around,
in fear for their own lives.

No one tried to help the girl,
she stricken in the isle.
My seatbelt I must now unfurl,
dodge cases, shards and bile.

To the isle I fell, and crawled,
toward the stricken child.
At all the selfishness appalled,
Self-righteousness gone wild.

I reached the girl and wrapped myself
around her small frail form.
My only thought now for her health,
and cushion her from harm.

I knew we all were doomed to die,
nought would now grant our need.
The plane was falling from the sky,
an unrealistic speed.

My body enveloped her tight,
I gave her face a glance.
Her angel smile was pure delight,
I must give her a chance.

I cushioned her as best I could,
from the impending crash.
Death was close, it's understood,
and over in a flash.

I passed out cold before the end,
no oxygen I guess.
No real foe, nor real friend,
just work and loneliness.

But I awoke, I was not dead,
a grassy hillside green.
Had it all been in my head?
Was it all a dream?

I looked around, and there I saw,
a vision in the mist.
The little girl, lame no more,
was walking, no assist.

I saw the crash site far away,
the crumpled plane afire.
My life somehow was spared this day,
now what good could transpire.

The girl approached and calmly said,
“The reason you've been spared.
The others in the plane are dead,
but you have proved you cared.

The angels came to rescue me,
my future’s planned they tell
But your strong arms they could not free,
So, rescued you as well.”

Believe this story if you can,
with truth you may not cope.
I know I'm now a kinder man,
now in my life there’s hope.

I never saw that child again,
but heard about her work.
She travels curing ills and pain,
Whether Afro, Jew or Turk.