HERO

	 When the stranger came to Arborville
	 They scorned him as a bum
	 He came from out of nowhere
	 Walking in the noon day sun

	 The dust and grime of many days
	 Clung reeking to his shirt
	 His ragged jeans were covered
	 With a layer of ancient dirt

	 God help us cried the church devout
	 For shame to see this crime
	 A lousy drunken tramp no doubt
	 Who stinks of beer and wine

	 No pride in his appearance
	 He shameless flaunts his ruin
	 What gall to come to our pure town
	 Just what's he think he's doin'

	 They stared in shock, disgusted
	 Just to see this lowely man
	 Unwashed, unwed, unwanted
	 Lost to Jesus's perfect plan

	 The stranger went into a park
	 Within the heart of town
	 He found a patch of cooling shade
	 And sat upon the ground

	 His eyes were keen upon the street
	 That passed that garden's way
	 He sat in silent stillness
	 In the fever of the day

	 A sudden piercing screech of tires
	 Ripped the heavy air
	 A truck careened against the curb
	 And crashed the arbor there

	 It tore within that shady grove
	 And smashed into a tree
	 Who's ancient boughs were cracked and worn
	 For all the world to see

	 A sound like thunder shook the park
	 The giant lurched to fall
	 And toppled slowly from its height
	 Towards the ground below

	 A small girl played upon the grass
	 Beneath that lethal weight
	 Without a care to run away
	 Before it was to late

	 The stranger moved with all his strength
	 To reach that gentle babe
	 His heart and bone and muscle strained
	 He swore, her life to save

	 He dove beneath that crushing beam
	 Within the shadows aim
	 And pushed aside that perfect child
	 From death's impending rain

	 The mighty giant struck the earth
	 exploding as it hit
	 A cloud of heavy choking dust
	 Arose surrounding it

	 A crowd of local people ran
	 To meet that toll of doom
	 A frantic mother searched the ground
	 Within that awful gloom

	 Safe beyond that timbers reach
	 She found her frightened girl
	 Lost in tears and blinding dust
	 On the lawn where she was hurled

	 Trapped beneath that fallen tree
	 The stranger's life had fled
	 Lost to a unforgiving world
	 He lay unmoving, dead

	 The little girl approached the man
	 To lend her simple grace
	 And rained down gentle tears
	 Awash upon that hero's face

	 He gave his life to save her own
	 No thought to pride or fame
	 A king had walked among them
	 And they never knew his name

			      B.E.