Little kindnesses

Little kindnesses

Happy endings are rare in life,
Though joy and happiness often flower,
The same goes for Edna,
Her life so like so many others,
Until that day when 29 it all changed.
No one knows why this happens,
DNA I am sure is the culprit,
In any case she had no recourse
As she slid into madness.
Her family could only watch in horror
As her eyes became those of a stranger,
Untrusting,
Fearful of those around her,
One moment at peace the next paranoid,
Hiding from those who love her the most.
At home she became a danger to others if not to herself,
Nowhere to put her,
Family driven to distraction from love and anger;
Also simple uncomplicated fatigue,
With no end in sight.
One day she simply disappeared for a year or two,
Her family ashamed of their relief along side their sorrow,
Then they found her pushing a cart through the streets,
Her world dragged along with her,
Junk to others, treasure to herself,
A small comfort in an alien cold world,
Rebuffing all help,
No recognition from her fear filled eyes.
So from afar they watched, helped when they could,
Knowing in this cruel world that often makes no sense
The danger filled streets were the only place for her.
To be locked up with others close, a hell much worse
Compared to the purgatory she now lived.
Their love never gone,
In that she was unique even if she did not know it,
The love of her family intact,
Their pain only deepening as they watched helpless to help,
Nothing could be done.
She was known by those who lived near where she tromped,
Helping in little ways,
Leaving things where she could find them,
Blankets in winter,
Food,
Clothing left in certain ritual stops for her to find,
Unknowing of the protection that did surround her from time to time,
Little kindnesses unseen by others,
Yet known by the family and a healing balm.
She died alone seemingly forgotten,
In the alley where she slept,
Causes unknown,
Many however suspect so frail was her health.
Her family mourned deeply
Their pain not erased by death
Yet some peace in knowing her nightmare over,
Her sleep secure.
I have no answers to such horror
The world is filled with many much worse,
So if you are looking for a pious answer this is the wrong place to look.
We each have our burden to carry,
Our lives flower from time to time with joy and happiness,
Perhaps also a mystery just as great or greater than the other.