~Umbrella~

Umbrella

it was gray and heavy

like a watercolor

blurred out

it kept spilling

and smudging

icy charcoal

from the sky

I was almost crying

I was cold

and falling apart

shivering

like a trembling sigh

alone

on the rainy street

then I felt a tap on my shoulder

or at least I think he did

I turned and he was there

old but still young

bent and gentle

he bowed to me

like a gentlemen

he told me to take his umbrella

his voice was like smooth, soft music

I couldn’t understand much else

I kept saying thank you

stumbling over words

he smiled and touched my shoulder

leaving me clutching his black umbrella

dripping water

shocked

thinking that this

was the kindest thing

to have ever happened to me

I covered myself

with the black umbrella

turned to make my way home

Bob Dylan’s

“Shelter from the Storm”

in my head

~Sarah Mahina Calvello~