A Mothers Search
I walked right through the passageway and sat myself right down
The subway would soon be coming and taking me out of midtown
But as I sat there waiting, an old lady sat two seats down from me
And tears were coming down her face from what my eyes could see
The woman seemed to be way past sixty with stringy hair and all
And as she rose when the train pulled up she stumbled in the dim lit hall
Many people walked around her some even cursed as she lay there
Her eyes seemed to ask for help but no one had the time to spare
They only cursed and went their way, some even called her insane
Soon the train was leaving as she and I were the only ones that remained
Should I go over and help her or just sit like a fool and stare ahead?
If I sat there and did nothing I knew I’d pay for it when I went to bed
Yes, nightmares of her face would haunt me as a tear rolled down my cheek
And I could tell she was hungry because she really looked sickly and weak
I reached down and lifted her up and sat her back down in a seat
She looked more like warmed over death and I noticed she had swollen feet
“Where are you headed?” I asked as the words came out against my will
You remind me of my little boy she said, back in ‘52 we named him Bill
But somehow I lost my husband and the state took my little boy
And I’ve been searching all over the city and so far it’s turned up no joy
What was your mama’s name son? Is she still around anywhere?
I know you think I’m off my rocker but frankly I really don’t care
I’ve been beaten by the police, kicked out of soup lines as well
Been cursed at worse than a sailor and been damned to that burning hell
You see people don’t see my heart, they only see the ugly that I’ve become
And yes I reckon they’re right because I’m known as Charlotte the bum
But at least somebody cares because I can see it in your pretty brown eyes
Yes, her sincerity really got to me and for that I couldn’t hardly lie
I helped her over to the elevators and we rode up to the main street
Where I called a taxi so the woman wouldn’t have to stand on her feet
She’s asleep in the master bedroom after a meal down at the corner Deli
But I noticed as we were both leaving, she grabbed a few extra pack of Apple jelly
All those years I’d been searching and coming up with zero’s to show
But one night down in the subway station I saw the direction I needed to go
Someone was searching for her son and I was searching for a mother
And now we had what each was searching for, we now had one another
She might not have been my real mother, but who really cares these days
That’s the story I’m telling and that’s how the games are played
Copyright © Will Karry | Year Posted 2014
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