The Gift of Sight

"Girl on the Boat"  by William Oxer


Linking with Poets United for the Mid Week Motif ~ Charity, and The Sunday Muse for Muse # 19



The Brain – is wider than the Sky 
~Emily Dickinson

The first time I saw her it was at the Smith’s Cafe 2 miles from the marina.  It took me 3 texts, two eggs over easy, and most of my coffee before I realized she was blind.  She reached out and was touching the face of the man beside her, who I thought must have been a husband or dear friend.  At first I thought it was a moment of endearment but when she rose to walk away I realized her eyes looked passed him like head lights on high beam reaching to the farthest point.  Her hand rested on his shoulder as she followed his lead around the tables and out the door so trustingly like it was a dance she had done a million times before.  The vision of it was imprinted on my heart.  I could never trust another person that way.

The second time I saw her was at the botanic gardens.  She had a white cane, and seemed to know exactly where she was going down those stone walk way steps.  I found myself following her in fascination.  She had more confidence in her steps than I ever have.  How could someone with such limits be so sure and determined on their path?  I stayed behind her all the way to Dove Meadow Lake.   For a while I felt incline to stop her.  Did she not realize she was heading to open waters?  To my astonishment she made it all the way to the dock.  “Mam, excuse me Mam?” I called out with a certain urgency.  She stopped slowly like a long train.  “Charity”, she spoke out.  “Charity?” I recited back, not sure what she was implying.  “Charity Johnson” she added, “My name is Charity!” “Oh hi Charity I just wanted to make sure you did not step off into the water.”  “God has my back, and my ears have my eyes, but thank you” she said with a deliberate politeness.  As she spoke the words she also stepped into the boat at the end of the dock.

 All the while I had followed closer and closer behind her, and almost lost my composure when she got right into the boat like it was a common task in her day.  I stood by the lake for a while, bewildered and silent, when suddenly her voice called out, “would you like to join me?”  “In the boat?” I asked, certain it sounded even worse spoken out loud.  “Of course” she replied with a smile that I could almost hear.  “Ok”, was my final answer as I carefully stepped down beside her, and for the rest of the afternoon I was her eyes, and truly she was also mine! 

©Carrie Van Horn 2019