A perfect heart

A small little hand reached up
to tap at my window
tap
tap
tap tap tap
Ignoring the persistent rhythmic plea
I looked out at a brown tinted world
Vehicles momentarily leashed
by the red glow of a traffic light
Swarms of humanity scuttling across

Tap tap
Tap tap
A change in rhythm
Broke my reverie
Two grubby little hands now
Yet unclaimed by a face
Fascinated, I watched
Hands folded in a plea
Two fingers and a thumb joined
to form a mouth moving wordlessly
“Hunger” I thought
A curved palm swayed menacingly
“The vicious snake of poverty”
it seemed to me
Two hands joined at the wrist
to form the snapping jaws of a crocodile
“Cruel world” I deciphered

Down slid the brown screen of my window
Revealing the world’s true colours.
Bending out as I looked,
She laid claim to the grubby little hands

Toothless grin lighting up a dirt stained face
Delighted with her award-winning performance.
But I was mesmerised by her eyes
Glittering honey brown diamonds
Shining with life
Filled with dreams.

Speechless,
I reached into my bag
And handed her some money.
Without a word she took it.
As my car inched forward,
I looked back to see
Two grubby little hands
Forming a perfect little heart.