Diana Der-Hovanessian: ANGEL IN SOMERVILLE

Once Sona gave me an angel. Or I should say
a drawing of one sprinkling stars
like snow, inscribing it, "Diana scattering
light."  Not mother, not mommy, not mom —
she used my name.  I taped it to the door
of her old room and there it stayed until

it came to life today.  Walking in Somerville
I saw a woman in an empty parking lot
scattering crumbs St. Francis style
to swarming pigeons at her feet,
Sona’s angel strewing stars, chatting as regent,
angel, queen, — bag lady no more, but mother
feeding her children, dispensing grace.