A Woman of the Streets

When she stood up
With emotions
Barely intact
And told her story,
You could have heard
A pin drop
As everyone stopped
To listen.
She had been kidnapped
At age twelve
And held in captivity
For several weeks
While being taught
The ways of the world,
And was then dumped
On the streets
To fend for herself.
She slept in dumpsters,
Or wherever she could
And survived
Living on handouts,
Sorting through garbage
And trading favors
Just to stay alive.
She eventually escaped
The skid-row savagery,
And went on to become
Successful in her own right,
To found her own company
And to become
A renown community leader.
Perhaps it was
By some miracle
Of inner strength,
Or just her tenacity
And force of character
That allowed her
To survive the streets
That had her later
Become so successful.
Looking a her,
Elegantly attired
In an expensive
Business suit,
And standing there,
Now a polished
Professional speaker,
You could never
Have guessed
Where she came from
Until you heard
Her passion
And emotional fervor
As an advocate
For the children
Of the streets.