Angels' Music

Angel's Music

Persistently I walked
Along a dusty road
And did not pause
Thirst was the goad

A man had offered
A glass of lemonade
A lift by car
I refused this aid

I had to go alone
Was this a penance?
Or was it a fad?
Or was it a dance?

No people thereabouts
No houses either
No sheep, no dogs
Just hot weather

A lonely gravel track
And the sweltering sun
Three miles to walk
What had I done?

In a strange country
As quiet as a mouse
Walking back to my room
In an empty house

Then came a song
Too beautiful for any voice
From a man or woman
It was the angels-rejoice

It was a hymn to Mary
But never sung in church
It was a free gift
Never found by search

I doubted the angels
Was there a gramophone?
But this could not be
For I was quite alone

The nearest house
Was far away
Beyond a field
What could I say?

The music was loud
But not instrumental
It was right next to me
So loud but so gentle

So I was not alone
An angel walked with me
When I got home
A friend waited with tea

I sat in her room
The angel sang again
Quite softly this time
And gently like rain

Did you hear that?
To her I whispered
No it was not a record?
It was the angels we've heard

I had doubted the angels
Then the song was renewed
"I can hear the angels," I said
For both of us this was good.

That song
Remains with me
An unearthly music
Which is also with thee.

Joan Hughes Sunday 24.9.2000.
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