City Angel

By James Conroy

An angel walked on water
most people saw a sail.
An angel floated over downtown
the moneylenders called her a cloud.
An angel passed through brick
inspectors condemned the building.
An angel asked the mayor for a City key
His Honor said get elected first.
An angel visited County Hospital to work miracles
administrators said they weren’t covered.
An angel went to City Jail for pity’s sake
she lacked proper ID to see prisoners.
An angel roamed the inner city
police said she was out of bounds.
Finally the angel went to the media.
It was no story unless
she had fed the hungry
healed the sick
delivered the incarcerated
cleaned up corruption
or saved the economy
single-handed.
Or, they said,
she could walk on water.