instead

The woman I love is a saint 

Who deserves to have 

People falling on their knees 

Before her in the street 

Asking for her blessing. 

Instead, here she is on the floor, 

Hitting a mouse with a shoe 

As tears run down her face. 

 

[Charles Simic {Dušan Simić} {1938-2023} 'The Saint', from Scribbled in the Dark]