The Angel (from "The Island")

 
when I met him for the first time  
he was this enormous wild beast  
I let him stay with me in  
that lovely house along the Mercier de Moulin  
it was midnight, the end of winter  
he walked all the way from  
the train station  
I opened the door, and there I saw him  
for the first time  
he took off his hat, shook his head  
and I could never remember what he said  
he could've said "good evening!" or  
"it's freezing outside!" or  
"a lovely train journey that was!" but  
all I could hear was growl!  
whatever was left of his hair  
was long, unruly, and fell over his shoulders  
he had a long beard and a startled look  
on his face, his sad old eyes  
he must've been shocked to see me  
and thus he tried to look away  
I showed him to his room and  
I went back to bed, wondering  
what on earth had I done  
but let me tell you about such  
beasts, they are not all the same  
yes they are brutish, rough, and  
most of them are survivors and  
know only how to live for themselves  
if you are wounded, if you are sick  
they will leave you  
but this animal, he is different  
he lived in a tiny hovel, yet he grew the  
most beautiful flowers on the balcony  
he was poor and reclusive, yet he introduced me to  
the most exotic teas, olives, Turkish sweets  
kippers and sauerkraut, flatbreads and the tandoor!  
he was melancholic because of the way  
of the world, but how he glowed! at the sight of  
worldly wonder, the sea, the trees, the mountains  
and when I was sick, when I was difficult  
when I was impossible  
he cared for me, listened to me  
and never ever left me  
many years ago I prayed that God  
send me an angel, of course, I really  
didn't know what a real angel  
was like ...