The Angel of Lyon - Tom Russell

Box of visions

Angel of Lyon

HE HAD A VISION OF ANNE MARIE

WITH A ROSARY IN HER HAND

SO IT’S EXIT THE RAINMAKER

THE OLD GREY FLANNEL MAN

WITH A CLOSET FULL OF BUSINESS SUITS

HE LEFT A LETTER NEAR THE PHONE

IT SAID, «I'M ON MY WAY TO PARADISE

TO SEE THE ANGEL OF LYON»

AND THEN HE CAUGHT THE TRAIN TO BRUSSELS

HE ORDERED COGNAC AND CROISSANTS

HE MADE A MENTAL LIST

OF THINGS HE OWNED BUT DIDN?

T WANT

ALL THE BUILDINGS, ALL THE REAL ESTATE

THE ANTIQUE GLASS AND STONE

HE’D TRADE A VOW OF POVERTY

TO SEE THE ANGEL OF LYON

AND HE SANG AVE MARIA

OR AT LEAST THE PARTS HE KNEW

AND WATCHED THE SHADOW OF THE TRAIN

ON THE TOWNS THAT THEY ROLLED THROUGH

AND HE CLOSED HIS EYES AND HE SAW TWO RIVERS

THE RHONE AND THE SAONE

THE MALE AND FEMALE SPIRIT OF

THE CITY OF LYON

THEN HE WAITED ON THE BRIDGE

WHERE THEY MET THE YEAR BEFORE

BUT THE DAYS TURNED INTO WEEKS

AND THEN THE SEASONS NUMBERED FOUR

AND HIS CLOTHES GREW WORN AND RAGGED

AS THROUGH THAT TOWN HE ROAMED

SEARCHING EVERY OPEN WINDOW

FOR THE ANGEL OF LYON

AND HE SANG AVA MARIA

OR AT LEAST THE PARTS HE KNEW

AND WATCHED HIS SHADOW ON THE WALLS

OF THE STREETS THAT HE WALKED THROUGH

AND HE CROSSED THOSE HOLY RIVERS

THE RHONE AND THE SAONE

THEY’D NOT GIVE UP THE SECRET OF

THE ANGEL OF LYON

THERE’S A THOUSAND CANDLES BURNING

IN THE BASILICA TONIGHT

WHERE SISTER EVE MARIA

IS THE KEEPER OF THE LIGHT

AND DOWN A DREAM OF ALLEYWAYS

WALKS A SAINT OF RAG AND BONE

THE MADMAN TORN ASUNDER

BY THE ANGEL OF LYON

AND HE SANG AVA MARIA

OR AT LEAST THE PARTS HE KNEW

AND WATCHED HIS SHADOW ON THE WALL

OF THE STREETS THAT HE CRAWLED THROUGH

AND HE CROSSED THOSE HOLY RIVERS

THE RHONE AND THE SAONE

BUT THEY’D NOT GIVE UP THE SECRET OF

THE ANGEL OF LYON