As the Wind Blows
The tears slide down one at a time as I sit on a wooden step
They will not provide me with a solution of not having
A place to sleep, eat or provide for myself and
My three young children

Leaves jump down the sidewalk as the wind gently blows
A leaf hesitates on the concrete in front of me
Intently I stare at it as if it might be hiding an answer
Just for me and my children

Without a noise, the solitary, dark red leaf flips itself over
I continue to stare at it as if it me be hiding an answer
Just for me and my children

The wind whispers as red leaf moves closer to my right red shoe
It turns itself over to reveal a piece of white paper with black writing, 
something that looks like numbers to my watery eyes
For me and my children

Red shoe holds tight to leaf with the numbers as I look
Down the street, left and right without a single being in sight
My fingers clasp the number as my other hand uses my last minutes
For me and my children

To call this unknown number and it rings, one two and three
Then a soft voice tells me I have reached the women’s emergency 
Shelter and how could they help me and I start to weep
For me and my children

© Catina Noble