Red Shoes and Haiku
I went to get my booster shot; third vaccine and also the flu shot.
They told me to sit in the red chair and wait.
I was at the CVS on Arrowood Road.
So I read my book, News of the World, about a man traveling to Texas on horseback reading the paper to the people in each town, for a dime.
And didn’t notice the comings and goings until another customer waiting in another red chair, said, “She’s talking to you. She likes your shoes.”
I looked up and saw a big smile and she saying you have a light free spirit to wear those red shoes. I said yes. I only wear these New Balance but look for colors.
Bless you she said then went on about how she was done with husbands and she had been in the shelter. At a devotional they had there in the living room, she saw her guardian angel pass through and the angel told her everything was gonna be okay, she had everything she needed, all the rest is want.
All the rest is want.
Then the pharmacist came and gave me two shots and Blessed Angel went to the counter to take care of what she was there for. I stood up and thanked her for her message.
She say I am so sorry I didn’t even ask if you was a Christian.
I thought of my daddy and that time in Alais house in Eluai, Tanzania when he asked me that question. His wife had made a beaded cross for me.
I wanted to tell her it didn’t matter, her message went over all religions and people
But I said, oh yes, I am.
Can I say it in 3 lines?
Red shoes lit up her soul
Provoking saying hello
Bless you sister for your shoes
Good fall day
Still mosquitoes here
Have on my red shoes
Done with husbands she says
Guardian angel visits
Guides her to know all is well
All the rest is want
Getting my booster shot
She visited me
We both had masks
could see smiling though
Who will be my blessed angel today and where? At the park? On the Zoom? Who will be with me? Who will I be with? Not distracted…Just there, Just here. I am happy I met you, I said, then added, I am happy I saw you. I could have met you and still missed you.