The homeless woman with the stringy gray hair
was waiting for me at the door of the church.
I had the key. It was early morning, very cold.
I said no, and no again. I can’t let you in.
No, I can’t let you in. When I came out later
and went to look for her, she was sleeping
by the other door, heaped up, and we were told,
never wake them. They’re confused then,
uncertain. The way I was in the afternoon when
I came awake and the sun was shining
through the window. For a moment my eyes
were out of focus, and the green and yellow leaves
of the trees outside sparkled like facets.
Very bright. I didn’t know what I was seeing.