heaven on the street

I caught a glimpse of heaven today
on a glasgow city street
for the angels were out
busking

I passed them
family in tow
with hopes high of a holy grail
in some entertainment exchange
at the end of the row

they looked like human beings
those angels
their faces a halo
of scrumptious
luscious
mouth-watering
ingenuity

playing guitars
their faces shone so
two young women
singing of love
and loves lost
in harmony
outside the shopping precinct

and standing in mid-air
as still as still
an angel without wings
hovering

he had the shoppers on the go
whipping their hands
underneath
beneath
below his boots
as white as snow
hoping to catch hold of
angelic secrets
as wingless
he air-stood
motionless
emotionless
alone

I caught a glimpse of heaven today
on a glasgow city street
some angels
without heads
it perturbed my daughter so
no beatific smile
purely empty air
no sparkling blue eyes
just glassless glasses
underneath pitch black bowler hat
with white gloved hand
offering out God’s peace

I caught a glimpse of hell today
on a glasgow city street
a desperate preacher man
ranting in the round
of death and destruction
ten to the pound
but “jesus saves us from aliens”
went unnoticed

for the angels had done their work
on that glorious meritorious day
and no devil of a preacher man
could take heaven away