Tis sad but true, this paradox
Reflects the way we are
Whatever length we tend to stride
Our goals seem twice as far
Many live and love and learn
But very few are taught
Love is something you can't earn
Nor can it be bought
Love is found in all of us
To share it is the key
A stranger in a crowded bus
Is who told this to me
Now some would call him "Hero"
Some would call him "Fool"
Twas on a night sub-zero
Was the temperature ... too cruel
I will not jump ahead in this
Sit back, relax, my dear
You'll hear a story that's been missed
As most of us don't hear
I do not know if this is true
As I was only told
And so, in turn, no proof for you
While it does unfold
"Twas back in 1924 ... "
He started with his tale
"6 years after the 1st World War
I spent a night in jail"
"Back then", he said, "the laws were bad
And many people died
That morning I had lost my dad"
As he said this ... he cried
I didn't mean to gawk at him
But there, inside the bus
I glanced around in light so dim
And felt the stares towards us
His sobbing came from deep inside
He shuddered as he wept
In my view a bona fide
Soldier's heart was kept
His tears came forth, but oh, so slow
As if he'd trained them well
Twas as he wanted me to know
This portrait of his Hell
I saw him then for what he was
A man of unknown strength
A man whose heart does what it does
Because of years in length
He tried to hold back with his tears
He'd weathered them before
They weren't created by his fears
But something that told more
He straightened up and then leaned back
A sereneness came to him
I thought he'd had a heart attack
Until he spoke ... again
"It's been some time since I've done that
Been almost 50 years"
He offered this, as there he sat
"My destination nears"
With that, the busdriver yelled out
"Bismarck ... 16 miles!!"
I calculated with no doubt
I'd off there too ... with smiles
"I'm sorry to have bothered you
You, sir, have been too kind"
If he had seen it from my view
He couldn't though ... he's blind
We traveled on in silence
I felt my racing heart
I sat there in defiance
Not wanting us to part
My plans were to go further east
But my plans now could wait
Thinking ahead, I thought at least
I'd phone ... say I'd be late
We struggled towards the depot
Engaging ice and snow
With gusts of 13 miles or so
Wind chill ... 40 below
We huddled close together
Continuing our trek
His old-style jacket leather
Lapel turned towards his neck
We entered through the doorway
No one was in sight
Suspecting this a foray
Someone yelled, "HEY, what a night!"
Two cups of steaming coffee
Strong, almost coal-black
The nightclerk handed one to me
Then ... took the other back
Before I made a motion
My new friend cleared his throat
I sensed he had a notion
To take off his leather coat
I looked at him in ragged clothes
"I never touch the stuff"
He sort of wrinkled up his nose
And said, "I like it rough"
The nightclerk reappeared again
He set a bottle down
I read the label ... it was gin
My friend changed to a clown
"It's time to celebrate my friend
There's two things right tonight
My future here is at an end
And yours is very bright"
Again a question from my eyes
Led him to explain
He feigned a look of sheer surprise
"My friend, I can't remain"
"All I can say is you did right
By helping one you saw
Who you thought needed help tonight
In truth, I am the LAW"
Through all he said I sat and drank
The gin flowed smooth and true
When he finished I thought a prank
Then someone yelled, "HEY YOU!!!"
I spun around to see the clerk
Quite agitated he
Hoisted me up with one strong jerk
Not mad ... but frantically
"YOU REALLY ARE A LUCKY MAN
FOR STOPPING HERE TONIGHT
THE RADIO SAYS NO ONE CAN
CONTINUE ON TIL LIGHT!!!"
I tried to calm him down a bit
To catch what all he meant
"THE BUS YOU'D BEEN ON TOOK A HIT
THANK GOD JUST ONE LIFE SPENT!!"
Interpreting the words he said
I wondered ... Do I dare?
I slowly turned, but in my head
I knew he wasn't there
I couldn't voice my questions then
I'd have to let them wait
Who was the old man who had been
With me ... What was his fate?
I didn't voice these thoughts of mine
I just sat there perplexed
Then, on the floor, ahead, in line
A note I saw read "Next
Time you help a stranger
Your life again is spared
I kept you from all danger
Because, inside, you cared"
I noticed on the backside
One more verse was scrawled
I knew twas the old man had died
I stood there, quite apalled
I tried to sort out what would be
Before I read the verse
But then I felt the gin hit me
I sat down, feeling worse
I read the flip side of the note
And then I wept inside
By reading what this man had wrote
I knew an angel died
"I told you that I was the LAW
I took away your sin
Tonight, my friend, you finally saw
Your Loving Angel Within"
L_____A____W