That woman over there, I heard someone call her by another name, not a pretty name, but a name I’ve heard all my life.

That woman over there fed us when no one would, gave us her last dime, got a real body to come into our house, she gave him cash and he fixed the cold and gave us some heat.

That woman over there sat at my grandma’s bedside and she washed her from head to feet, stayed all night till the waking morning light as she woke us from a sleep filled with an aroma bringing us to our feet.

There lay so beautiful, and so plentiful, food right there on our plates, and yes we were grateful.

That woman over there washed my sister’s matted hair, combed her nappy hair, pressed her hair straight, curled it just right, you see that woman over there? Yes, that woman over there!

Said she did it out of love, the love that kept her heart together, didn’t exactly know what it meant then, but I know now.

When she became down and out, they turned their backs, wouldn’t give her the time of day, wouldn't even share the dime they had to spare.

When she needed food, her friends cursed her and called her out her name, too ashamed to asked anyone else, she did what she had to do.

On her backside she cried while she died inside and out.  No one reaching for her, no one pulling her out this pit, a disease called rock bottom hit her soul.

When she knocked at our door, we didn’t ask questions for this was a friend who took us and held on to us tight.

All we had in return was what she had given to us already.  Holding on and now letting go and finding some of that love to give that kept us together.

We gave her a new name, we sat beside her bed til she woke to the waking morning light, greeted her with a bit to eat, we combed her hair, we even gave her our last dime and for everything she did, we never cursed her or called her out her name, and as she  stood ashamed at our door, we never turned our backs  because this was a friend that would have done the same.

Yes, I’m talking about that woman over there!

All Rights Reserved, 2002 by Rosalyn R Walker

(new works)