Heather Pound

i had to gather myself together,

to leave my home that day.

tired, stifling heat and teeming paths,

my soul thirsty for softer things.

relieved to locate a seat on the train,

both my daughter and i, my weary gaze

finally left the floor traveling up

to a woman sitting across. she was

so soft and serene, at peace, unremarkably

dressed, nothing particularly of note, and yet,

in absolute stillness and assurance she

held my gaze. and her face radiated things like,

‘take heart, it is going to be ok. you are

never alone. and be patient, you will

get there in the end.’ these thoughts

permeated my mind and i sighed in deep

and knew that this moment was profound and

gifted for my good. our stop was announced and

we rose in silence within that city’s fierce hum,

and i filed the encounter away private, sacred, mine.

when eventually i spoke years later of these things

on a lazy afternoon, my daughter nodded matter of fact,

exclaiming, ‘oh, i remember her, too!’ and she

used the words i had been hesitant to say,

that while some must announce, ‘do not be afraid,’

other angels come quiet and unexpected

on places like calcutta trains, proclaiming

hope filled things and peace on earth that day.

—-sometimes when you least expect it, you might encounter a miracle.

image:Subhajit Jana/Unsplash