MAN  WITH  THE  GOLDEN  WINGS

                                                      by

                                         Vernon J. Davis Jr.







                                           It is Christmas Eve

                                           and the snow is falling

                                                      on a lonely little house

                                                       in the countryside.





                                            Come..., let us go inside and listen.





                                             In this house, a little girl lies asleep

                                              in her bed.

                                              But sleep she doesn't stay, for she's

                                              awaken by a bright light instead.

                                              The light comes through her bedroom

                                               window with warming colors.

                                               And when she looks out her window,

                                                she sees a man with wings on his back.

                                                Golden Wings at that.





                                   "Mama! Mama! Come look,come see!"

                                    The little girl runs out her room as she cries.

                                    "I just saw a man with Golden Wings outside.

                                    He's tall and handsome, with a great big smile.

                                    And his arms are full of nice shiny things.

                                    Mama, who do you think this man is with

                                    Golden Wings?"





                          Slowly her mother looks up from her rocking chair.

                          She is still young with fair eyes,but now has grey 

                           hair.

                          "Hush girl," She barely speaks in a soft whisper.

                          "Don't come runnin in here tellin me no 

                           boldface lies.

                           Your mama ain't feeling well, and there ain't

                            no man with Golden Wings outside.

                            I'se know you'se excited cause Christmas

                            is coming.

                            But, ain't no lying gonna make dawn come

                            a runnin."





                            "But, but mama, I ain't lyin! I did see this man

                             outside.

                             He, he, had a halo on his head too, to go with

                              his big smile.

                             His Wings moved slowly to keep the snow

                              off them,

                              and he wanted to say something to me.

                              But, I ran in here so I could get you to see

                              this man with Golden Wings."





                             "Honey,...listen, your eyes can play tricks on you.

                              And the snow can make you see things too.

                               I remember when I was excited for Christmas

                               at your age.

                               I saw a giant lion with a great big white beard.

                               Hmp, it was nothing but a dream, but, I sure

                                was scared."





                                The little girl hangs her head and quietly says

                                "Mama, I'm sorry."

                                "Baby, that's all right."





                                "But, listen child, I know we haven't

                                   had much in our way of living.

                                   And hardly anyone,nowadays, has been

                                   in the Spirit for giving.

                                   But you know I'se tried to make things right

                                   for both of us, since your daddy died.

                                   So, for your daddy, we both have to survive."





                                  "Tell me more about daddy, what was he like?"





                           "Your daddy was a God-fearing man, who died

                              before you was born.

                              And he died seven years ago on Christmas morn.

                              He was on his way home with presents in his arms,

                              when he was lost in the snow.

                              And he never knew he would have a daughter,

                              He never knew he would be a father."





                              "Was he a nice man?"

                              "Of course he was."





                               "But enough of this, go on back to bed

                                 and get some rest.

                                 And when you get up, I'll have you a good

                                  hot breakfast."

                             The little girl gives her mother a hug and whispers

                              "Merry Christmas Mama" and slowly turns

                              away.

                              "Merry Christmas to you too, sweetheart,"

                               her mother replies while watching her daugther's

                               silent stroll

                               as she suddenly feels the overwhelming

                               emptiness of her own lonely soul.

                             







                               Quietly she rises from her rocking chair,

                                walking to her own room with much pain to bear.

                                She climbs into bed, wiping away her tears,

                                and glancing out her window, she feels a slight

                                 fear.

                                 And when sleep descends on her eyelids, she

                                 asks GOD, "Does anyone really care?"





                                                      *******

                                                      *******

                                                      *******





                         "Mama! Mama! Wake-up, Wake-up! he really was

                           here!"

                           The little girl's voice rings in her mother's ear.

                          "Come look, come look, come see for yourself,"

                            she says while pulling and dragging her mother out

                            of bed

                             to see what Christmas day had bred.





                            By the bedroom window laid many pretty gifts

                            nestled comfortably in a glittering snow drift.

                            Toys and clothes all neatly arrayed

                            placed carefully with Love and Harmony

                             by the Man with the Golden Wings.

                             But the most surprising gift of all

                              that the mother only saw...

                              was her husband's wedding ring.





                              She slowly bends down and picks it up

                              while her daughter asks

                              "Mama, was He an Angel?"



                               "Yes Dear," her Mother replies.

                               "And much more. He was your Daddy,

                                 come home."





                                 It is Christmas Day

                                 and the snow has  stopped falling.

                                            And the lonely little house

                                            in the countryside,

                                            for today,

                                            isn't so lonely.



Vernon J. Davis Jr. (c)copyright 1977, 2001 & 2006.

From my upcoming book--"THE EMOSEWA WOMAN"