They Are Like Angels, These Ones
By Joergen Ostensen
5.4.19
I wrote this poem after volunteering at an orphanage in the township of Alexandra, which is outside of Johannesburg. As I was leaving, one of the little girls would not let go of my hand. The woman who runs the place helped me say goodbye to the child and, as she did, she said to me, "They are like angels, these ones."
They are like angels, these ones
She says
With starlight in their eyes
Running, swinging, kicking
Their deflated rubber ball.
They are like angels, these ones
She says
Sitting with their backs to the wall
In the shadows
Out from under the never ending sun.
They are like angels, these ones
She says
Smiling as he is lifted into the air
His off brand superman cape
Catching the wind.
They are like angels, these ones
She says
Digging for worms in the dirt
Among the rocks, pumpkins
And forgotten potatoes.
They are like angels, these ones
She says
As they chatter away in their languages
And their stuffed guerrillas
Look on with big, sweet, round eyes.
They are like angels, these ones
She says
With dogs that say woof
On their t-shirts
And beads in their braided hair.
They are like angels, these ones
She says
Sharing water with each other
Pouring it out into the bottle cap
From the top of the sun scaled play-set.
They are like angels, these ones
She says
Here inside the walls, sharing life together
Here on the other side
Of the trash, the rubble, the pain.
They are like angels, these ones
She says
So young they can fly
In their dreams
Like the bird on her blue shirt.
They are like angels, these ones
She says
As they sing together
While eating from the plastic plates
Cross legged on the floor.
They are like angels, these ones
She says
Little tiny angels
Forgotten angels
As the same song keeps on playing.
They are like angels, these ones
She says
With starlight in their eyes
They are like angels, these ones
Whose parents are the ones in heaven.
They are like angels, these ones
She says
As her fingers will not let go of mine
They are like angels, these ones
With starlight in their eyes.
