Angel Eyes

Angel Eyes

Bubbling laughter, a flashing smile,
and eyes that light up her father. At
four this girl feels like a superhero, her
power, she makes her daddy smile.
 
One of her mother’s coworkers almost
invited her family to church, but got
cold feet about talking religion on the job.
She also decided that to go to that part
of town would be way out of the way for
a busy Sunday morning.
 
Velvet skin, long pig tails and, eyes that
look for her father. At eight this girl is still
a superhero but daddy is no longer around
to be affected by her powers.
 
A pastor almost set up and evangelistic
tent in her neighborhood but after a
protracted business meeting with the
deacons decided instead to fulfill his
promise of remodeling the restrooms
in the basement of the church.
 
Tomboy legs, singing dimples and, eyes
that gobble up the morning. At twelve her
powers affect substitutes, older boys introduce
themselves, and young men circle closer.
 
Two church members saw her walking with
friends from school and scolded her intensely
 about the length of her skirt and the tightness
of her blouse. They did not however invite her
to church or consider her mother’s ability to
keep a growing young girl in clothes that fit.
 
A little girl’s voice, a woman’s face and, eyes
that recede from tomorrow. At sixteen this girl
 has lost all her superpowers, for these men
that come will sometimes laugh, but never do
they smile.
 
Three hypocrites, doing the damage that
hypocrites do, saw her walking one cool
evening. She took their money like anybody
else’s, but decided that she would not visit
that church anymore for fear she might
be recognized.
 
A little girl’s face, a woman’s voice,
and eyes that are brightened by her father.
At twenty she has discovered late, but it is
never too late, that though her daddy is still
gone, her father never left and when she
seeks his face, she always finds a smile.
 
Angel eyes sharing her father’s smile.

 

From: Christian Poems and Other Radical Explorations 

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