Back alley conversion. 

©-2014-Matthew F Blowers III

Artwhimsically Yours Studio 

It was just an 
old whiskey crate, 
the size of a small coffin, 
made of splintered wood, 
and newspapers, 
in which the 
newborn was laid, 
by the fleeing 
teen-aged mother. 

The umbilical cord 
was freshly cut, 
and had clotted quickly 
in the frigid air 
she'd used a 
Swedish Army knife, 
to free herself 
of her burden. 

For there was no 
room at her IN, 
her IN with her friends, 
for this lust luggage, 
so she stuck the infant 
in an old tin shed, 
out back of a tavern, 
where they stored 
empty cases and kegs 

It was here that the bums 
gathered in awe and wonder, 
on that cold December eve. 
Two stray dogs led them there. 

There was the young, 
but sadly disheartened, 
Molly who had a bad drug habit, 
that drove her to being homeless. 

Then there was the 
former carpenter 
who had been laid off, 
and now lived 
on the streets 
begging small 
change for his life. 

Three older but wiser 
kings of the gutter, 
came next 
men who had 
spent many years 
foraging treasures 
from dumpsters. 

They all gathered 
at this spot, 
and gazed in awe 
at this tiny baby. 

Each of the older, 
wiser men, 
hobbled away 
quickly to get 
sustenance for it, 
bearing gifts on 
their return 
such as a glass 
pint of creme, 
someone had disposed of 
with just a wee bit 
in the bottom, 
heated over a 
Bic lighter 
and rubbed 
on the babys gums. 

A tattered blanket of wool, 
so dearly treasured 
in the icy cold, 
but offered to 
warm this babe. 

Plus an almost empty 
bottle of baby oil, 
as well as a clean 
pillowcase still boxed 
scrounged from 
behind a drug store, 
to use on the 
baby's wet behind, 
as they struggled 
to change it as well 
to keep things warmer.. 

Suddenly in that 
small fragment of time 
all of their problems 
became minuscule. 

Molly who had always 
wanted a child, 
but couldn't, 
saw hope in this baby 
snuggled so warm 
in her arms, 
as it clung to her 
as if she really mattered. 

She became an instant 
Madonna that night. 

The carpenter seeing 
the beauty of this act 
began to fall in love 
with the baby, 
and also looked at 
Molly in a new light. 

The three old kings 
of the gutter 
got even wiser, 
so moved were they, 
by this tender waif, 
left all alone without love, 
and they began remembering 
children and grandchildren 
that they had long left alone 
and missed, 
and so they each in time 
staggered back to homes, 
that held loved ones 
they'd long ago deserted 
and were welcomed 
with open arms. 

Molly and the carpenter 
took the baby 
to the Salvation Army shelter, 
where they had 
been turned away 
just hours before. 

But this time because 
they were a family 
they had priority and it 
got them room at that inn, 
and then that same 
service found work 
over the next three days 
for the carpenter, 
and for Molly, 
which led to a small 
walk up apartment, 
and a chance 
to be something 
of worth for them both. 

P a r e n t s. 

The baby grew up to be 
a very famous doctor, 
who was responsible 
for curing 
two forms of cancer 
one which was breast, 
and the other esophageal 
just one of God's 
many answers 
sent to earth 
wrapped in the 
flesh of newborns. 
he saved many lives 
because he was saved, 
on that long ago night. 

Of course, he 
was never told 
the story of his rescue, 
nor of the c

onversion 

of five lost souls 
in a back alley 
on Christmas eve. 
Though it wouldn't 
have changed a thing. 

"May your hearts all be given birth 

to many Happy Holidays to come."