they told me I had 2 years left to live
but I didn't want them.
so I gave them to a little
match girl who was standing
at the corner of 16th and 25th.
she looked up at me, her
wide blue eyes filled with something
beyond my comprehension.
her white lips moved
silently, to say thank you
for she wanted very much to live.
on a whim, I bought a match
from her, paid with a twenty
and didn't ask for any change.
when I went home
I lit a candle with the match
and it stood over me as I drew my last breath.
my body collapsed to
the floor, red blood
pooling by my mouth.
the candle flickered once
as if bidding me farewell
but it did not go out.
so I sat there, wearing
just a simple white robe
waiting for my angel to come.
she never did show
so I sat there in the candlelight
watching my blood seep from between my lips.
the flame went out
around midnight, when
the candle was just a stub.
and I waited in the dark
for my angel, who never did show.









